Is it right to jerk somebody’s professional license to practice their profession if they are busted for selling illicit drugs? Sure, and the devil is in the details of when and how that’s done. Hitting somebody in the wallet for behavior that damages society has been a favorite of the courts (and professional self-regulating bodies) for a long time. People need to feel consequences to their actions. Addiction masks those feelings when the consequences befall others, and amplifies the consequences when they happen to they hit home.
A second story about a Florida attorney disbarred for drug trafficking came my way recently, and I’m not convinced it was the right move, simply because of the attorney, Noah Daniel Liberman’s continuous sobriety for six years. This guy probably has some marbles back and has demonstrated willingness to turn his life around. If the court’s disbarment decision had taken place five or six years ago, the punishment might be appropriate. Show the guy some consequences to his actions and give him a bottom, quick…but six years? Come on.
I know another fellow who is a nurse who was caught stealing narcotics. In short order, he was forbidden to practice his profession, losing his license. A few years later, he’s clean and sober and happy in his plumbing job, and considering not even bothering to get his nursing license back.
These two cases are similar, because they are both willing to recover. They differ in recognizing recovery. The nurse’s punishment was appropriate, and in an appropriate amount of time, the perpetrator feels contrite and has demonstrated a willingness to get clean and stay clean. The attorney has demonstrated the same thing, and in the inappropriate amount of time was disbarred.
What’s wrong with the Florida courts system? Florida is home to more rehabs that storks, and the courts don’t seem to have in inkling of an understanding about addiction and recovery. In fairness, two Florida justices, Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince dissented, recognizing Liberman’s exemplary lifestyle over the past six years of staying clean. Still…he hasn’t worked as a lawyer all this time and was disbarred. That’s inappropriate punishment, Florida.
The good news is that enough time has passed for Liberman and my friend to apply to their respective professional accrediting and licensing bodies to be reinstated to their professional status. Disbarment, however, is quite a stain on one’s record. I wouldn’t blame Liberman if he decided to take up plumbing.
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