High court suspends ex-senator

Friday, March 26, 1999 | 10:37 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Former state Sen. Lee Walker of North Las Vegas has been temporarily suspended by the Nevada Supreme Court from the practice of law because of his felony convictions in Utah.

The court Thursday told the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board to start formal proceedings to decide the punishment for Walker, who served in the Senate in the 1971, 1973 and 1975 sessions.

Walker was placed on probation in Washington County, Utah, for 36 months for his conviction on one count of securities fraud and one count of money laundering. He was ordered to pay restitution and was prohibited from engaging in any transaction involving the offer or sale of securities.

Walker opposed his temporary suspension, saying he was moving for a new trial and, if unsuccessful, he would appeal the conviction. The Supreme Court said, however, that Walker was convicted of a serious crime that warranted temporary suspension. In other action, the court ordered a 30-day suspension to Las Vegas attorney Mark Sturdivant for repeatedly lying to his clients about a case he had taken for free.

The court ordered Sturdivant to pay $1,000 to Diana and Ted Jolley. Sturdivant had agreed to legal representations in the effort by Ted to adopt Diana's two children from a prior marriage. The court said Sturdivant engaged in a "baffling series of lies" by telling the Jolleys he was working on the case and that hearing dates were set and then canceled.

Sturdivant never filed the petition to terminate the parental rights of the stepfather. Diana Jolley finally discovered the lies, took her file and got another attorney who completed the adoption on Dec. 23, 1996.

Sturdivant was also ordered disbarred but the court held that in abeyance for five years. If he does not get in any trouble during that time, the disbarment order will be scrapped.

The court also ordered that Gary Salomons, an attorney from California who has clients in Las Vegas, be suspended from the practice from law for one year dating back to June 1998 and be on probation for three years.