<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0liqgU_1GnfH3Ij00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0liqgU_1GnfH3Ij00" width="875" height="463" ><figcaption>Depositphotos.com image</figcaption></figure>In Brief<ul><li>The Minnesota Supreme Court indefinitely suspended Bemidji attorney Darrell Carter and barred him from seeking reinstatement for six months.</li><li>Carter was previously suspended in 2023 after admitting to multiple ethics violations, including conflicts of interest, client fund mishandling and false statements.</li><li>New misconduct allegations included practicing law while suspended, failing to notify clients of his suspension, neglecting legal matters and retaining unearned fees.</li><li>The Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility identified multiple client matters involving criminal defense, family law, probate-related issues and civil litigation that were adversely affected.</li></ul>The Minnesota Supreme court has indefinitely suspended Bemidji attorney Darrell Carter for misconduct while under a previous suspension. Under the court’s order dated Oct. 30, Carter has no right to petition for reinstatement for six months. Carter was admitted to practice law in Minnesota in 1988. Before 2023, Carter was admonished four times and stipulated to private probation once. The Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility had raised concerns regarding client business transactions, ex parte communications with a court, mishandling advance fees, appropriate client communication, and disclosure of confidential information. Carter was suspended from the practice of law in 2023 for a minimum of six months. He had unconditionally admitted to multiple ethical violations, including disclosing confidential prospective client information, making irrelevant derogatory statements, representing a client despite a conflict of interest, mishandling unearned client funds in three matters, and knowingly making false statements to clients, an unrepresented party, and the disciplinary authority. Additionally, following his impaired-driving arrest, Carter allegedly implied he could influence a government official.In the current discipline case, filed Dec. 3, 2024, Carter faced discipline for misconduct which allegedly occurred while suspended. This included unauthorized practice of law while suspended, failure to notify clients of his suspension, neglecting legal matters, failing to communicate with clients, and retaining unearned legal fees. The OLPR identified five matters in which Carter allegedly continued practicing law despite his suspension, involving criminal cases, probation matters, DUI arrests, and a marital dissolution. In the marital dissolution matter, Carter allegedly failed to inform his client of his suspension despite being directly questioned about it. He also failed to provide a referral to another attorney or notify the client of an upcoming trial date and a required parenting education class. The client learned of these obligations while attempting to secure replacement counsel. Carter also failed to refund unearned fees after the representation ended. In another matter, Carter received $1,500 to pursue expungement of two theft cases. However, he allegedly failed to initiate the process or communicate with the client for four years. Contact did not resume until the client filed a complaint with the OLPR director’s office.Carter also represented a woman seeking to remain in her deceased grandfather’s home, receiving $2,500 from her domestic partner. Despite repeated attempts by the client and family members to contact him, Carter allegedly failed to provide updates. The client eventually received legal documents concerning the potential sale of the home without having received guidance from Carter. After learning of his 2023 suspension, Carter eventually refunded the payment, disclosed his suspension, and terminated the representation. In a mechanics lien case, Carter received a $1,000 retainer from two clients but allegedly failed to respond to discovery requests, address a motion to compel, or inform his clients about court orders requiring discovery responses and payment of $830 in attorney fees and expenses. He also missed a pretrial hearing without notifying the clients. When they discovered the hearing through a third party, Carter immediately terminated representation, stating he could no longer handle the case. He failed to refund the unearned fees. Carter also represented a man in a criminal matter after receiving a $2,500 flat fee from the client’s mother. The fee was not deposited into a trust account. Carter requested a continuance because of his health without consulting the client. He subsequently failed to respond to the client’s requests concerning release conditions. The client eventually contacted the court as a self-represented litigant and got a public defender. Carter allegedly failed to refund the unearned fees. Carter and the OLPR entered into a stipulation for discipline, recommending that appropriate discipline was indefinite suspension with no right to petition for reinstatement for six months. After that stipulation was filed, Carter filed a notice of withdrawal of stipulation, which the Minnesota Supreme Court construed as a motion to make any suspension retroactive to April 1, 2025, right after the stipulation was filed. The Minnesota Supreme Court did not make the suspension retraoactive or permit him to withdraw from the stipulation for discipline. As he is currently serving a disciplinary suspension that began in June 2023, Carter must petition for reinstatement. However, the Minnesota Supreme Court has agreed to let Carter petition for reinstatement for both the earlier-imposed suspension and this suspension in the same proceeding. </div></body>

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The Minnesota Supreme Court indefinitely suspended Bemidji attorney Darrell Carter and barred him from seeking reinstatement for six months. Carter was previously suspended in 2023 after admitting to multiple ethics violations, including conflicts of interest, client fund mishandling and false statements. New misconduct allegations included practicing law while suspended, failing...

Misconduct during suspension prompts a second suspension

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The Minnesota Supreme Court indefinitely suspended Bemidji attorney Darrell Carter and barred him from seeking reinstatement for six months. Carter was pre

Misconduct during suspension prompts a second suspension

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