Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department

M65635

E/nl

A. GAIL PRUDENTI, P.J.

STEPHEN G. CRANE

WILLIAM F. MASTRO

REINALDO E. RIVERA

ROBERT A. SPOLZINO, JJ.

1995-00343 In the Matter of John J. Connolly, a disbarred attorney. (Attorney Registration No. 1625839)

DECISION & ORDER ON MOTION FOR REINSTATEMENT

Motion by the respondent for reinstatement as an attorney and counselor-at-law. The respondent was admitted to the Bar at a term of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Third Judicial Department on October 15, 1969. By opinion and order of this court dated November 18, 1996, he was disbarred and his name was stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law. By decision and order on motion of this court dated March 19, 1997, the respondent's motion for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeals from the November 18, 1996, opinion and order of this court was denied. By decision and order on motion of this court dated May 9, 2005, this court held the respondent's motion for reinstatement in abeyance and referred the matter to the Committee on Character and Fitness to investigate and report on the respondent 's current fitness to be an attorney, including, but not limited to: (a) the respondent's failure to file an affidavit of compliance; (b) the respondent's 1996 income tax return, if filed; and (c) the lack of availability of copies of correspondence to clients following the respondent's disbarment.

Upon the report of the Committee on Character and Fitness and the exhibits annexed thereto, it is

ORDERED that the motion is granted; and it is further,

ORDERED that, effective immediately, the respondent, John J. Connolly, is reinstated as an attorney and counselor-at-law and the Clerk of the court is directed to restore the name of John J. Connolly to the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law.

PRUDENTI, P.J., CRANE, MASTRO, RIVERA and SPOLZINO, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

James Edward Pelzer

Clerk of the Court