SAN FRANCISCO – Longtime Oak View attorney James Andre Boles faces disbarment following an Aug. 8 California Supreme Court order after he allegedly failed to comply with conditions in two separate disciplinary probation matters, according to a recent report issued by the State Bar of California and court documents.
In its order, the Supreme Court also ordered Boles to pay costs and comply with California court rules regarding his discipline.
The Supreme Court's order follows a State Bar Court decision and order of involuntary inactive enrollment issued in April, in which the State Bar Court found Boles culpable of the alleged misconduct and recommended he be disbarred. The State Bar Court also concluded Boles would not benefit from a third time on probation.
"While the court observed [Boles] to be bright, well-spoken, and articulate, he repeatedly attempted to use the hearing in this matter to collaterally attack his prior disciplinary matters in Nevada and California, and as a vehicle to press the First Amendment and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) claims that he argues were ignored by the Nevada and California courts," the decision and order said. "Moreover, [Boles] gave no assurances that he could ever comply with conditions of disciplinary probation. In response to the office of chief trial counsel's question regarding whether he could comply with probation conditions if he were placed on probation for a third time, [Boles] replied, 'no.'"
Boles' disbarment will be effective Saturday, Sept. 7, according to an announcement on the state bar's website.
Boles was admitted to the bar in California on Aug. 21, 1989, according to his profile at the state bar website.
Boles most recently was placed on probation in June 2017 after he allegedly abandoned two clients in Nevada in about six years earlier, misconduct for which he was disciplined in that state. He also was placed on probation in November 2015.
Boles has spottily complied with the various probation requirements but "at some point" Boles concluded he "didn't feel it was something [he] could do anymore,'" the decision and order said. Boles claimed he suffered a disability from brain injuries "that cannot be conclusively diagnosed," but later declined to provide medical records to support the claim.