Gordon Caplan, left. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Things aren’t going great for Gordon Caplan. As you probably know, the onetime co-managing partner at Willkie Farr found himself caught in the “Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal, eventually pleading guilty to paying $75,000 to “college coaches” turned government cooperating witnesses in a scheme to have a professional alter his daughter’s answers on the ACT in order to get her a higher score. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani to one month of jail time. Now he’s in a fight to keep his law license.
In New York, disbarment is automatic for conviction of a state felony or for a crime “essentially similar” to a state felony. As reported by Law.com, Caplan’s license has been suspended, but he’s trying to avoid the most severe punishment:
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On Thursday, the Appellate Division, First Department held that Caplan’s offense qualified as a “serious crime” that warranted immediate suspension, but also granted his request for a hearing as to “why a final order of censure, suspension or disbarment should not be made.”
As Caplan’s attorney, Michael Ross, noted:
“Mr. Caplan agreed to the interim suspension and looks forward to presenting all the facts to the court so that a fair and appropriate sanction can be imposed on him,” Ross said.
Earlier this week, Caplan reported to a low-security prison in Pennsylvania to begin serving his sentence. The ethics hearing will take place within 90 days of his release.
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Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).