NOTICE: This opinion is subject to modification resulting from motions for reconsideration under Supreme Court Rule 27, the Court’s reconsideration, and editorial revisions by the Reporter of Decisions. The version of the opinion published in the Advance Sheets for the Georgia Reports, designated as the “Final Copy,” will replace any prior version on the Court’s website and docket. A bound volume of the Georgia Reports will contain the final and official text of the opinion.
In the Supreme Court of Georgia
Decided: March 18, 2025
S25Z0397. IN THE MATTER OF HENRY LAMAR WILLIS.
PER CURIAM.
This matter is before the Court on Henry Lamar Willis’s
Application for Certification of Fitness to Practice Law pursuant to
Part A, Section 10 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice
of Law in Georgia (the “Rules”). Willis was admitted to the Bar in
2006 and established a law firm that year. In the fall of 2012, Willis
failed to respond to the State Bar’s Formal Complaint against him
related to his failure to properly maintain and disburse $30,000 in
settlement funds to a client and his improper conversion of the funds
for personal use. See In the Matter of Willis, 293 Ga. 781, 781 (749
SE2d 740) (2013). The special master overseeing the matter entered
an order of default judgment, such that the alleged facts in the
Formal Complaint were deemed admitted, see Bar Rule 4-208.1 (b),
and recommended that this Court disbar Willis. See id. On October
7, 2013, this Court disbarred Willis for his violations of Rules 1.3
(requiring a lawyer to act with reasonable diligence and promptness
in representing a client), 1.15 (I) (a) (requiring a lawyer to keep
client funds separate from the lawyer’s own funds) and (b)
(providing that a lawyer may not disregard a third person’s interest
in funds), 1.15 (II) (a) (requiring a lawyer to deposit funds held for a
client in a trust account), and 8.4 (a) (4) (providing that a lawyer
may not engage in professional conduct involving dishonesty, fraud,
deceit or misrepresentation) of the Georgia Rules of Professional
Conduct found in Bar Rule 4-102 (d). See id. at 782.
Willis now seeks readmission to the Bar, claiming that he has
undergone a twelve-year rehabilitation process since disbarment.
Following review of his Application and his appearance at an
informal conference, the Board to Determine Fitness of Bar
Applicants (the “Fitness Board”) voted to recommend granting
Willis’s Application. The Application is now before this Court for
final adjudication. See Bar Admission Rules, Part A, Section 10 (e)
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(“[t]he Supreme Court shall make the final determination regarding
certification of fitness” of attorneys applying for readmission to the
practice of law).
In connection with his Application, Willis filed a statement of
rehabilitation in accordance with In re Cason, 249 Ga. 806, 808-809
(294 SE2d 520) (1982), in which he explains that “[b]etween the
years of 2010 and 2013 . . . [his] nearly seventeen . . . year marriage
. . . was clearly coming to an end,” “everything [he] had worked so
hard to build in [his] professional and civic life seemed to be on the
same treacherous path,” and he “fell into a state of analysis
paralysis.” Willis further states that, following his divorce and
disbarment, he lost his bid for re-election to the Atlanta City
Council, such that “[t]hree of the most significant accomplishments
of [his] life . . . had all come to a very difficult end and it all played
out very publicly both in television and print.” Willis also states that,
since his disbarment, he has paid all funds due; turned to prayer,
exercise, meditation, counseling, and journaling; developed a
business with his son; ventured into the world of government and
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public affairs by opening a consulting business; served on the Board
of Advisors for a real estate development company; and was
approved to serve on the Atlanta Beltline Technical Advisory Board.
Also in connection with his application, Willis submitted letters of
recommendation from five attorneys and one Atlanta city council
member. All of these individuals have known Willis for at least
twelve years and describe him as an “upstanding member of the
community,” an “excellent person . . . [who] has taken full
responsibility for any mistakes he may have made,” a “new and
better version of himself” following his disbarment, a “trusted and
respected” colleague, a man who has done the “‘[h]ard work’ and the
‘[h]eart work’ on his journey to healing and redemption,” and
someone who “has always generously given of his time and
resources.”
As part of its investigation, the Fitness Board provided notice
to the State Bar of Georgia and to the Bar membership and Chief
Judge of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit where Willis had practiced;
provided newspaper notice to the public in the area where Willis had
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practiced; and sought confirmation from the Clients’ Security Fund
that no restitution was due. See Part A, Section 10 (d) (1)-(4) of the
Rules. The Fitness Board received no response from members of the
public or the judiciary, but the State Bar responded that, at the time
of Willis’s disbarment, he had one grievance pending against him,
which was “declared moot” based on his disbarment.1 The State Bar
also has informed this Court that it does not intend to reactivate
that grievance. The Clients’ Security Fund responded that Willis
owed $4,800, which he immediately paid after this debt was brought
to his attention. At an informal conference convened before the
Fitness Board, Willis took full responsibility for his past conduct and
explained that, since his disbarment, he has built a business,
created a better life for himself and his children, and reestablished
his reputation in the community. After considering Willis’s
1 This grievance was based on Willis’s alleged failure to adequately
communicate with a client in the course of a representation. As a result of the
grievance, the Investigative Panel voted to issue an Investigative Panel
Reprimand for violations of Rules 1.3, 1.4, and 1.16 (d) of the Georgia Rules of
Professional Conduct. It does not appear that the reprimand was delivered
prior to Willis’s disbarment, and the grievance was placed on “inactive status”
and “declared moot” on October 7, 2013.
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testimony and written submissions, the Fitness Board concluded
that he had, by clear and convincing evidence, carried his burden of
demonstrating rehabilitation and recommended a Certification of
Fitness be issued to Willis for readmission. See In re Cason, 249 Ga.
806, 808-809 (294 SE2d 520) (1982) (bar admission applicant bears
burden to establish rehabilitation by clear and convincing evidence,
and “rehabilitation is the reestablishment of the reputation of a
person by his or her restoration to a useful and constructive place in
society,” including “[t]he requirement of positive action”).
Upon consideration of the record, we conclude that Willis
should be certified as fit to practice law in Georgia under the criteria
provided in Part A, Section 10 of the Rules. See, e.g., In the Matter
of Myers, 318 Ga. 704 (899 SE2d 691) (2024) (granting the
applicant’s certification of fitness to practice law under
circumstances like Willis’s). We therefore grant Willis’s Application
for Certification of Fitness and order that, upon satisfaction of all
the requirements of Part B of the Rules, including taking and
passing the Georgia Bar Examination, Willis may be readmitted to
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the Bar as an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of
Georgia.
Certification of fitness for readmission granted. All the Justices
concur.
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