Williamson attorney misses Supreme Court disciplinary case

CHARLESTON - William H. Duty of Williamson blew his chance to save his law license, failing to show up at the Supreme Court of Appeals in response to a petition of the Lawyer Disciplinary Board.

Chief Justice Spike Maynard called Duty's name at the Court's Jan. 8 session, but no one answered.

"If ever there was a case for the impaired lawyers committee, this is it," Maynard said. "He's a good guy with a real bad problem."

The Lawyer Disciplinary Board has asked the Court to annul Duty's license and require him to join Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics before he can apply for reinstatement.

Last year the Board charged him with breaking 15 rules of professional conduct.