JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (St. Louis Record) — Kansas City attorney Luke B. Harkins has been reciprocally disbarred following a June 5 Missouri Supreme Court order after he was voluntarily disbarred in Kansas.
The Missouri Supreme Court's order followed a chief disciplinary counsel motion for reciprocal discipline pursuant to Rule 5.20 advising the court of its findings and an investigation, according to the order. Harkins was alleged to have violated professional conduct rules that included those regarding competence, diligence, expediting litigation, bar admission and disciplinary matters and misconduct.
Harkins did not respond to a show cause order issued in early May and the high court sustained the chief disciplinary counsel's motion before disbarring Harkins. The Missouri Supreme Court also ordered Harkins to pay costs in the matter.
The Missouri high court's decision follows Harkins' voluntary surrender of his license in Kansas, according to a Kansas Bar Association brief of a decision handed down against Harkins by the Kansas Supreme Court in December. "At the time of surrender, a complaint was pending against Harkins, which alleged multiple violations of the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct," the brief said.
"The court found that Harkins' surrender of his license should be accepted, and Harkins was disbarred."
The complaint in Kansas against Harkins was pending before that state's board for discipline of attorneys when he surrendered his license, according to the Kansas Supreme Court's order of disbarment handed down Dec. 1. In September 2017, that state's disciplinary administrator filed a formal complaint against Harkins and the following November a hearing panel conducted a hearing on the complaint.
The Kansas hearing panel subsequently entered a final hearing report alleging Harkins violated professional conduct rules, including his duties to the state bar and about formal hearings.
The Kansas Supreme Court ordered that Harkins disbarment be published in Kansas Reports and ordered Harkins to pay costs in the matter.