The State Bar of Texas, Relator v. Honorable Wyatt H. Heard, Judge, Respondent

Summary

The Texas Supreme Court conditionally granted a writ of mandamus ordering Judge Heard to suspend Ronald B. Pruitt’s law license during the pendency of his appeal, holding that §16(a) of the State Bar Act imposes a mandatory, ministerial duty to do so and that mail fraud is a crime involving moral turpitude. The Court also held that an adverse party need not be joined in a mandamus action when the duty is ministerial and that mandamus lies where no adequate appellate remedy exists. Justice Pope and Chief Justice Greenhill dissented, arguing that the Court improperly intervened in a summary‑judgment proceeding and that the statute requires suspension only after a final conviction.