Posted on: Saturday, December 8, 2001

Mirikitani could lose law license

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer

Mirikitani: Sentencing may lead to disbarment

As a result of his sentencing this week on public corruption charges, attorney and former City Councilman Andy Mirikitani could be ordered to stop practicing law possibly as early as next week.

Assistant Disciplinary Counsel Brian Means yesterday said he plans to ask the Hawai'i Supreme Court for the order as soon as his office receives official notification from the federal court about the sentence.

"We'll ask the court to restrain him from practicing law pending final disposition of a disciplinary proceeding based on the finding of guilt," Means said.

Normally, the state's high court files the restraining order after receiving such a request, Means said.

Mirikitani could not be reached to comment on whether he plans to resign or face the possibility of disbarment.

On Thursday he was ordered by U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor to begin serving a 4 1/.4-year sentence Jan. 17. He was convicted of theft, bribery and related charges for offering two aides bonuses in exchange for kickbacks.

An attorney who has been disbarred or who has resigned in lieu of facing disciplinary proceedings can apply to be reinstated after five years, Means said.

But Means said he doesn't know of anyone who has been resinstated after being disbarred or resigning to avoid disciplinary proceedings.