NO. 28687
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I
OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL, Petitioner
vs.
JOHN
C. VASSAR, Respondent
(ODC 07-119-8579)
Upon consideration of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel's petition for issuance of reciprocal discipline notice to Respondent John C. Vassar, pursuant to Rule 2.15(b) of the Rules of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawai'i (RSCH), the memorandum, affidavit, and exhibits thereto, and the record, it appears that:
(1) on June 19, 2007, the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department disbarred Respondent Vassar from the practice of law in New York, pursuant to New York's Judiciary Law § 90(4), based on his 2003 felony conviction for unlawful imprisonment in the first degree in the State of New York;
(2) RSCH 2.15(b) requires the same or substantially equivalent discipline, or restrictions or conditions upon the attorney's license to practice law in the State of Hawai‘i, unless Respondent Vassar shall show cause under RSCH 2.15(c) as to why imposition of the same or substantially equivalent discipline should not be imposed;
(3) Respondent Vassar had not filed a response to our August 28, 2007 notice and order; and
(4) the same discipline is warranted in this jurisdiction.
Therefore,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Respondent John C. Vassar is disbarred from the practice of law in the State of Hawai'i. Notwithstanding RSCH 2.16(c), Respondent Vassar's disbarment is effective upon entry of this order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondent Vassar's reinstatement in the State of Hawai'i is conditioned upon (1) payment of all costs of this proceeding, and (2) full reinstatement to the practice of law in New York.
DATED: Honolulu, Hawai'i, November 19, 2007.