TALLAHASSEE— Longtime Washington attorney Nathaniel H. Speights, who represented Monica Lewinsky during a late 1990s scandal, was disbarred in December following a Florida Supreme Court order after being held in contempt, according to a recent announcement by The Florida Bar.
Speights was held in contempt of the court's order dated April 18, 2019, for failing to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of his suspension, the state bar said in its Feb. 27 announcement of the discipline and the Supreme Court's order.
In its two-page order, the state Supreme Court approved the state bar's petition for contempt and found Speights in contempt. As a sanction, the high court disbarred Speights from practicing law in Florida.
Speights was already suspended, which meant his disbarment was effective immediately. The court also ordered Speights to pay $1,250 in costs.
Florida court orders are not final until time to file a rehearing motion expires. Filing such a motion does not alter the effective date of Speights's disbarment.
Attorneys disbarred in Florida generally cannot reapply for admission for five years and must pass an extensive process that includes a rigorous background check and retaking the bar exam.
Speights was admitted to the bar in Florida on June 1, 1976, according to his profile at the state bar website.
Speights was co-counsel with William H. Ginsburg defending Lewinsky after then President Bill Clinton admitted to an "inappropriate relationship" with her during her time as a White House intern from 1995 to 1996. Clinton was impeached but remained in office following allegations he had an affair and lied about it.
Speights was suspended following a Supreme Court order in April over allegations that he over allegations he mishandled several cases.
The Florida suspension order, among other things, required Speights to notify his clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of his suspension and to within 30 days provide the state bar with a sworn affidavit listing the names and addresses everyone he'd informed.
Speights did not submit the affidavit, according to the state bar's petition for contempt.
"Consequently, The Florida Bar is unaware whether respondent notified any clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of his suspension," the petition said.