2009 : No. 1 April
John Christopher Karlsson
Youbou, BC
Called to the bar: May 23, 2003
Discipline hearing : January 22, 2009
Panel : James Vilvang, QC, Chair, Robert Brun, QC and Peter Lloyd
Report issued : February 3, 2009 (2009 LSBC 03)
Counsel : Maureen Boyd for the Law Society and Jerome Ziskrout for John Christopher Karlsson
In 2000, 2001 and 2002, John Christopher Karlsson made three separate applications to the Law Society - two for temporary articles and one for enrolment in the admission program.
In 1991 Karlsson was charged with impaired driving and possession of a prohibited weapon. He was acquitted of impaired driving and pleaded guilty to the possession charge. In all three applications, Karlsson answered "no" to the question of whether he had ever been charged with a crime, offence or delinquency. Further, he solemnly declared in each application that the information he provided was true, accurate and complete.
Admission and Penalty
Karlsson admitted he lied in applications made to the Law Society in 2000, 2001 and 2002 and this conduct constitutes conduct unbecoming a lawyer.
Pursuant to Law Society Rule 4-22, the hearing panel accepted Karlsson's admission and ordered:
1. a six-week suspension; and
2. costs of $2,500.
In their assessment, the hearing panel noted that dishonesty is one of the most serious forms of conduct unbecoming or professional misconduct. The legal profession could not function if judges, other lawyers and members of the public could not rely on the honesty of lawyers, the panel said.