Miami attorney Christopher Steven Jones has been disbarred following an Oct.18 Florida Supreme Court order that found him in contempt for failing to comply with requirements if previous suspensions that stem from a felony plea in spring 2016.
The high court's order followed a Florida Bar Association petition for contempt alleging Jones had failed to comply with the terms of his suspension for three years this past June. Jones then was required to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of a still earlier suspension, that one for 91 days in July 2016, and to within 30 days provide the state bar with a sworn affidavit listing those contacted.
In addition to disbarring him, the Florida Supreme Court also ordered Jones to pay $1,250 in costs.
The state high court issued its two-page order of disciplinary revocation, tantamount to disbarment, noting that Jones already was suspended, which means his disbarment was was effective immediately. The Florida State Bar announced the discipline and the high court's order Nov. 21. In Florida court orders are not final until after time to file a rehearing motion expires.
Jones was admitted to the Florida bar Sept. 15, 2000, according to his profile at the state bar website.
His suspension this past June, following a state supreme court order the same month, included a finding of contempt for failing to comply with the prior suspension. The state bar announced that discipline and that state supreme court order July 31.
That suspension was handed down after his nolo contendere plea to one count of trespass to a structure and/or conveyance with a deadly weapon, a third degree felony, in the Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit for Miami-Dade County, according to his unconditional guilty plea and consent judgment. Adjudication of guilt was withheld and Jones was placed on two years' probation, according to his unconditional guilty plea.
The administrative order in the case was filed in December 2016.
Jones had no other discipline before the state bar for at least the prior 10 years, according to his profile.