Suspended attorney Niles Haymer was the target of an investigation by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
A Baton Rouge attorney has agreed to be suspended from the practice of law for three years in the wake of a disciplinary investigation that found the lawyer engaged in multiple incidents of professional misconduct, including dishonesty, fraud and deceit.
The disposition of the case of attorney Niles Haymer was laid out in a July 3 order from the Louisiana Supreme Court, which indicated the attorney and the state’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel had agreed to a joint petition to resolve the matter.
“The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) commenced an investigation into allegations that respondent neglected multiple legal matters resulting in abandonment of one matter, failed to communicate with clients, failed to safeguard client and third-party property, failed to timely remit funds to clients and third parties, failed to cooperate with the ODC, engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, and engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice,” the high court’s order states.
The court also ordered Haymer to pay appropriate restitution to his clients and third parties by Aug. 3. In addition, all the costs and expenses associated with the disciplinary proceedings must be paid by the attorney, the court said.
The high court’s decision did not include specific details about the attorney’s professional misconduct. The Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board did not respond to a request for information about the ODC’s investigation of Haymer.
Haymer’s attorney, Gideon Carter, declined to provide further comment about the disciplinary proceedings against Haymer when contacted by email. But Carter previously said in a statement that Haymer had expressed contrition over the matter.
“Mr. Haymer is extremely remorseful, has accepted the disciplinary outcome related to matters from his prior private practice and has taken full responsibility,” Carter said. “He is no longer engaged in private law practice and remains committed to public service through his work in community engagement, youth development and criminal justice reform.”
Haymer is now listed as deputy director of a nonprofit organization in East Baton Rouge called the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which puts forth initiatives to reform the criminal justice system in the parish.
The attorney was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar Association in 2003 after graduating from Southern University Law Center. During his legal career, Haymer specialized in family law, commercial accidents, train injuries, auto accidents, and workers’ compensation and criminal cases, according to MoreLaw, a website that compiles information about civil litigation and those who work in the field.
Last year, Haymer, a Democrat, ran unsuccessfully for Division C judge in the Baton Rouge Civil Court, according to the Ballotpedia website. He narrowly lost the November election to Brittany Bryand Jorden by a margin of 50.5% to 49.5%.
In 2019, he ran in a nonpartisan primary election for a judgeship in Juvenile Court Section 2B in East Baton Rouge Parish. Haymer lost to Gail Grover, who won 52.4% of the vote.
During the latter campaign, Haymer ran against the idea that juvenile offenders charged as adults should be housed in adult prisons and vowed to have the court system take a more active role in providing specialized education plans for youth, assisting them with substance abuse issues and providing job opportunities and occupational training.
Haymer lives in Baton Rouge with his wife and three children.
