LEWISTON — A local attorney who was barred from practicing in Maine for two years for misconduct and dishonesty, among other infractions, is expected to be able to practice again starting next month, according to a court order.

Jon P. Plourde’s two-year suspension was made retroactive to March 8, 2017. But starting on March 9 this year, his suspension likely will be lifted and he will be subject to conditions under which he may practice law in Maine again. The order spelling out those conditions is in the process of being drafted, according to The Board of Overseers of the Bar.

Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justice Ellen Gorman issued her Feb. 1 order after a hearing held last month on a disciplinary complaint against Plourde brought by The Board of Overseers.

Plourde and the board reached agreement on an order that was presented to the justice, who imposed the following sanctions:

• A two-year suspension beginning in March 2017 on the date he was removed from the Auburn law firm where he had worked since December 2015.

• His reinstatement to practice starting March 9, under the supervision of a colleague, the details of which continue to be hammered out.

In her order Gorman wrote that: “Plourde agrees that his misconduct violated important duties that he owed to his client, to the legal system – including the involved jurist and opposing counsel – and to the profession. There is also no dispute that he intentionally ignored (York County Superior Court) Justice (Wayne) Douglas’ discovery orders, including sanctions, and likewise intentionally failed to inform his client of important matters, including sanctions imposed against that client. The potential injury to that client was significant but, due to the willingness of Attorney Plourde’s former colleagues to step in as the client’s counsel and to make full payment of the $2,276.56 sanction imposed on the client, the actual injury to the client was minimal.

“Finally, the existence of aggravating and mitigating factors must be reviewed and considered. There are two significant aggravating factors here. First, Attorney Plourde demonstrated dishonesty by failing to inform his client of significant court orders, including a monetary sanction that the court had issued against him, and by making misrepresentations to the court and to opposing counsel. Second, Attorney Plourde exhibited a pattern of misconduct by his continued noncompliance with the court’s discovery orders.”

Plourde is a 2011 graduate of the University of Maine School of Law.

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