State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Vanderford

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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
317 Nebraska Reports
STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
State of Nebraska ex rel. Counsel for Discipline
of the Nebraska Supreme Court, relator,
v. Christine Vanderford, respondent.
___ N.W.3d ___
Filed October 4, 2024. 	No. S-23-527.
1. Disciplinary Proceedings: Appeal and Error. Because attorney disci-
pline cases are original proceedings before the Nebraska Supreme Court,
the court reviews a referee’s recommendations de novo on the record,
reaching a conclusion independent of the referee’s findings.
2. ____: ____. In a disciplinary proceeding, when a referee makes an
express determination about the relative credibility of witnesses, the
Nebraska Supreme Court gives weight to that determination in its de
novo review, but is not bound by it.
3. Disciplinary Proceedings. Violation of a disciplinary rule concerning
the practice of law is a ground for discipline.
4. ____. The basic issues in a disciplinary proceeding against an attorney
are whether discipline should be imposed and, if so, the appropriate
discipline under the circumstances.
5. ____. To determine whether and to what extent discipline should be
imposed in an attorney discipline proceeding, the Nebraska Supreme
Court considers the following factors: (1) the nature of the offense, (2)
the need for deterring others, (3) the maintenance of the reputation of
the bar as a whole, (4) the protection of the public, (5) the attitude of the
respondent generally, and (6) the respondent’s present or future fitness
to continue in the practice of law.
6. ____. The purpose of a disciplinary proceeding against an attorney is not
so much to punish the attorney as it is to determine whether it is in the
public interest that an attorney be permitted to practice, which question
includes considerations of the protection of the public.
7. ____. With respect to the imposition of attorney discipline, each attor-
ney discipline case must be evaluated in light of its particular facts and
circumstances.
8. ____. For purposes of determining the proper discipline of an attor-
ney, the Nebraska Supreme Court considers the attorney’s actions both
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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
317 Nebraska Reports
STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
underlying the events of the case and throughout the proceeding, as well
as any aggravating or mitigating factors.
9. ____. The propriety of a sanction in an attorney discipline case must
be considered with reference to the sanctions imposed in prior simi-
lar cases.
Original action. Judgment of suspension.
Kent L. Frobish, Assistant Counsel for Discipline, for relator.
Robert B. Creager, of Anderson, Creager & Wittstruck, P.C.,
L.L.O., for respondent.
Heavican, C.J., Miller-Lerman, Cassel, Stacy, Funke,
Papik, and Freudenberg, JJ.
Per Curiam.
INTRODUCTION
This is an attorney discipline case in which the only ques-
tion before this court is the appropriate discipline. The Counsel
for Discipline of the Nebraska Supreme Court, the relator,
brought 	formal 	charges 	against 	Christine 	Vanderford, 	the
respondent, generally concerning exploitation of a vulnerable
adult, J.R.K., for whom the respondent served as a guardian.
A court-appointed referee considering only the issue of appro-
priate discipline recommended generally that the respondent
be suspended from the practice of law, retroactively, from the
time she was suspended on January 27, 2020, to the date this
court files its opinion. The referee also recommended a proba-
tionary period to follow reinstatement. Certain facts herein are
based on the referee’s report, and in addition, we take judicial
notice of the appellate record in State v. Vanderford, 312 Neb.
580, 980 N.W.2d 397 (2022).
We granted a joint motion for judgment on the pleadings
with respect to the facts. We directed the parties to brief the
issue of discipline. As explained below, we order that the
respondent be suspended from the practice of law in the State
of Nebraska for the period that began with her temporary

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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
317 Nebraska Reports
STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
suspension on January 27, 2020, and ended on the date this
opinion was filed.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
The respondent was admitted to the practice of law in
Nebraska on September 17, 2002. At all times relevant to these
proceedings, the respondent was engaged in the practice of
law in Lincoln, Nebraska. Pursuant to Neb. Ct. R. § 3-302,
the respondent is under the jurisdiction of the Committee on
Inquiry of the First Judicial District (Committee).
Felony Conviction.
On December 5, 2019, in the district court for Lancaster
County, Nebraska, in case No. CR 19-1343, the respondent
was charged with exploitation of a vulnerable adult (a Class
IIA felony) and theft by deception, $5,000 or more (a Class IIA
felony). The State later amended count I to abuse of a vulner-
able adult (a Class IIIA felony) and count II to theft by unlaw-
ful taking, $5,000 or more (a Class IIA felony). After a bench
trial, the respondent was found guilty of “Count I: Abuse of a
Vulnerable Adult, a Class IIIA Felony.” The court found the
respondent “not guilty of Count II: Theft by unlawful taking,
$5,000 or more.” The respondent was sentenced to a 5-year
term of probation to include incarceration for 90 days in the
county jail.
The respondent appealed her conviction and sentence, and
on October 14, 2022, we affirmed the judgment of the dis-
trict court. State v. Vanderford, supra. Following our opinion,
the district court issued an order of probation. The respond-
ent’s 90-day commitment was deferred until August 10, 2023.
However, on August 1, the district court issued an order waiv-
ing the scheduled commitment of the respondent on the rec-
ommendation of the probation officer.
Initiation of Attorney Discipline Proceedings.
On January 27, 2020, the respondent’s license to practice
law was temporarily suspended by the Nebraska Supreme

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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
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STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
Court in case No. S-19-1080. The temporary suspension con-
cerned criminal charges regarding the respondent’s mother,
who was in a nursing facility, and arose out of contentions
between the respondent and the nursing facility. These criminal
charges were eventually dismissed.
The respondent’s license to practice law remains suspended.
She has not practiced law since that time.
On January 13, 2023, the respondent signed a waiver of her
right to have the complaint against her in the present matter
reviewed by the Committee. The respondent consented to the
direction by the chair of the Committee that the relator file
formal charges with the Nebraska Supreme Court consistent
with the complaint filed with the Committee. On January
30, the chair of the Committee accepted the respondent’s
waiver and, pursuant to Neb. Ct. R. § 3-309(H)(4) (rev. 2011),
directed the relator to file formal charges against the respond-
ent. On July 12, the respondent was formally charged with
violations of the Nebraska Rules of Professional Conduct
and her oath of office as an attorney, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 7-104
(Reissue 2022). The charges arose from the respondent’s
September 2020 felony conviction concerning exploitation
of a vulnerable adult. These formal charges give rise to the
instant appeal.
The respondent filed an answer in which she admitted the
factual allegations contained in the formal charges but denied
that she violated her oath of office as an attorney or Neb. Ct. R.
of Prof. Cond. § 3-508.4(a) and (b) (rev. 2016) of the Nebraska
Rules of Professional Conduct.
Referee Hearing.
A referee was appointed, and a hearing was held in December
2023. At the hearing, the parties, by agreement, stipulated to
the facts of the case set forth above. The respondent testified
extensively about her life circumstances before, during, and
after her criminal conviction. At the time of the hearing, the
respondent was 51 years of age and had no prior disciplin-
ary record.

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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
317 Nebraska Reports
STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
During her first 4 years of practicing law, the respondent
served clients in areas of estate planning, guardianship and
conservatorship, business development, and entity creation.
Although she sometimes shared office space with other law-
yers, in substance she was a solo practitioner throughout her
career.
In her practice handling guardianship and conservatorship
cases, the respondent primarily set up the guardianships or
conservatorships, but did not administer them. In this context,
she came to represent the vulnerable adult J.R.K., who would
become the subject of the criminal case in which the respond-
ent was convicted.
The respondent represented Rachel K. and Richard K., the
mother and stepfather respectively of J.R.K., an autistic per-
son with several other mental health conditions. Rachel and
Richard did not have a prior relationship with the respondent at
the time they retained her legal services in 2011. After Rachel
passed away, J.R.K. wanted to change her name to Richard’s
last name to have some better connection to her stepfather, as
he was her only remaining relative living in Nebraska. Richard
did not object. The respondent sought a legal name change for
J.R.K., and it was approved.
J.R.K. is an adult woman with developmental and mental
disabilities. She also had some physical ailments. Due to these
disabilities, she receives Social Security disability income and
qualifies for Medicaid benefits, including vocational and resi-
dential services. During the relevant time period, J.R.K. lived
with, and was assisted in her daily activities by, an extended
family home provider, who was paid a daily contract rate by
the State of Nebraska. J.R.K. also earned income from work-
ing at her part-time jobs. The respondent testified that J.R.K.
sometimes had difficult emotional or violent behaviors.
In the early years of the respondent’s representation of
Rachel and Richard, she had infrequent contact with J.R.K.
J.R.K. lived at home with Rachel and Richard and had
already qualified for and received Social Security disability

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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
317 Nebraska Reports
STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
payments, and the respondent had not been involved in obtain-
ing those benefits.
Rachel and Richard had tried to find a home placement for
J.R.K. but were unsuccessful because of J.R.K.’s behaviors.
When they were appointed guardians and conservators, it was
to help find living arrangements for J.R.K. and to manage her
limited income. They did not involve the respondent in prepar-
ing reports. They occasionally asked the respondent questions
but did not involve her in the paperwork.
J.R.K.’s natural father was also disabled, and he did not
accept that J.R.K. was disabled. When he died, he left some
assets to J.R.K., including an individual retirement account.
This complicated J.R.K.’s “disability income independent liv-
ing situation and Medicaid eligibility.” Rachel and Richard
engaged the respondent to set up a self-settled “Special Needs
Trust” to mitigate these complications. A second trust was later
created by the respondent for Rachel and Richard because
additional assets were discovered and the additional assets had
different tax implications.
The respondent was then asked to terminate the conservator-
ship in 2011. The respondent testified that it was her belief all
of the assets were to flow through the trust to support J.R.K.,
since her assets were only investments and Social Security dis-
ability benefits at the time. Rachel and Richard continued to
file guardianship reports but not conservatorship reports after
the conservatorships were terminated. The respondent testified
that she believed that the rules for guardians and conservators
had changed between that time and the present day. Rachel
and Richard’s reports were much less detailed when made in
their capacity as guardians than they were when made in their
capacity as conservators.
Rachel was largely unsuccessful at setting up extended
home placements for J.R.K. By 2014, Rachel was in failing
health and began pleading with the respondent to become
J.R.K.’s guardian once Rachel passed away. Rachel believed

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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
317 Nebraska Reports
STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
that Richard was not up to the task. The respondent claimed
that Rachel asked her to help Richard as J.R.K.’s guard-
ian when Rachel passed away, because they “respect[ed] and
believe[d] in” her.
Following Rachel’s death, Richard became J.R.K.’s sole
guardian, was trustee on various accounts, and was apparently
not up to the task. According to the respondent, Richard was
overwhelmed, did not understand Rachel’s recordkeeping, and
could not perform as guardian. Respondent claimed she reluc-
tantly became coguardian to J.R.K. A guardian ad litem was
appointed, and after an investigation, the respondent was even-
tually appointed as guardian.
As an attorney, the respondent had never previously served
as a guardian or conservator for any other individual.
According to respondent, she had access to all accounts at
the bank that were managed by Richard.
The respondent contended that Richard implored her to take
on a greater role in J.R.K.’s life. There were four extended
family home placements in the 3½ years that the respondent
was actively involved in the coguardianship.
According to her testimony, the respondent was experienc-
ing significant personal, financial, and health-related problems.
She had difficulties with her marriage and demands on her
time from family, including her husband, sister, and elderly
and disabled mother. Her husband had limited income and
had family problems as well. The respondent, through her
legal practice, provided most of her family’s income. The
respondent’s marriage ended in 2015 to 2016, just as she was
taking on more duties for J.R.K. While separated from her ex-
husband, with whom she was still close, the respondent was
trying to refinance their farm property with him. The respond-
ent’s ex-husband later died, causing further trauma.
In 2016, the respondent was severely injured in an automo-
bile accident. She experienced a series of significant medical
problems, operations, and healing complications. There is no

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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
317 Nebraska Reports
STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
dispute that her injuries and subsequent medical problems
were major and long-lasting. The respondent also had insur-
ance and litigation issues relating to the automobile accident.
Increasingly, the respondent became involved with J.R.K.
personally, to build the familial-type relationship desired by
Rachel. The respondent took J.R.K. to medical appointments
and on outings, including to a pumpkin patch and other activi-
ties. Many of these outings were done at the respondent’s
expense. J.R.K. was demanding and sometimes texted the
respondent 20 times a day.
The respondent testified that generally, she was not billing
for everything she was doing with J.R.K. However, she billed
for a particularly hectic period, from February to June 2016,
when J.R.K.’s situation was particularly demanding and J.R.K.
was in crisis.
The respondent also accompanied J.R.K. on a trip to Florida
to visit J.R.K.’s half brother. According to the respondent,
only Richard and the respondent were authorized to adminis-
ter antianxiety medication to J.R.K. Neither Richard, J.R.K.’s
extended family home provider, nor anyone else was available
to go on the trip with J.R.K. The respondent went on the trip
to escort J.R.K., manage her medication, drive, and otherwise
assist her on the aircraft and during the trip. According to
the respondent, Richard preapproved compensation for the
respondent billed at $500 per day, or $4,000 total.
According to the respondent, she essentially served as
J.R.K.’s surrogate mother and there were not sufficient funds
in the guardianship and trust accounts to pay the respondent’s
fees. The respondent incurred charges posted to her account
but was not being paid. Some invoices were submitted on a
flat fee basis, and some were based on her hourly rate as a
lawyer. In this timeframe, J.R.K.’s funds were used to pay
for J.R.K.’s expenses and were insufficient for legal fees.
After J.R.K. received some proceeds from the estate of her
grandmother, the respondent and Richard discussed satisfac-
tion of the respondent’s outstanding legal bill. At one point,

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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
317 Nebraska Reports
STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
the outstanding bill from the respondent was over $20,000. The
respondent received a significant portion of the outstanding bill
from the trust. The payment was flagged and reported to Adult
Protective Services.
The respondent’s payments to herself out of accounts on
which she was trustee resulted in the criminal charges against
her for theft and exploitation of a vulnerable adult discussed
above. The respondent did not obtain court approval for pay-
ments to herself. In this regard, she testified in the criminal
case, “I had a good faith intentional belief that these trusts
allowed for the trustees to make any payments on the behalf
of professional services without court supervision. It was the
old way of doing things with these Special Needs Trusts.”
During Rachel’s life, she had paid the respondent out of these
accounts. The respondent believed that the termination of the
conservatorship removed the “Special Needs Trusts” from judi-
cial supervision and that the trust would not operate like the
guardianship accounts.
The respondent claimed that she had a standing agreement
with Rachel and Richard that when she did things required to
attend to J.R.K.’s needs, she would be paid her legal rate. The
respondent testified that she performed all the services she
invoiced for and more.
Letters of Support.
The evidence adduced before the referee included letters of
support for the respondent. The respondent previously worked
for a former Nebraska Attorney General for several years as a
runner, a receptionist, a campaign coordinator, and a campaign
manager, and after the respondent finished law school, she was
an assistant attorney general. The former Attorney General for
whom the respondent worked is aware of the formal charges
and supports reinstatement of her license to practice law. The
letters of support speak collectively to the respondent’s charac-
ter and suggest a high probability she would not reoffend.

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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
317 Nebraska Reports
STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
The Respondent’s Statements.
The respondent testified to her plans should her license be
reinstated. She currently works as a paralegal to the general
counsel of a North Carolina company that is a leading corpora-
tion in the “[v]apor and CBD industry.” She works with leases,
employment issues, garnishments, and the like. She hopes to
continue working with her current employer in Nebraska and
potentially to seek a license to practice law in North Carolina,
where the business is headquartered. She does not intend to
return to private practice and would prefer to remain in the
business world. The company’s employees, including the gen-
eral counsel, several officers, and the president and chief exec-
utive officer, submitted letters in support of the respondent.
The referee found that the testimony of the respondent was
truthful and accurate. The referee emphasized his reliance on
the personal statement of facts as claimed by respondent in
exhibit 25 in the record and as also related in the transcript.
The referee emphasized the following personal statement, set
forth in full:
I wanted to take this opportunity to express my sincere
regret for my conduct in this matter. I loved being a law-
yer and helping people. To be convicted of a crime and
to lose my license to practice law while trying to fulfill
my obligations and duties to [J.R.K.’s] finances is crush-
ing. It has been a life-changing event — financially and
emotionally.
Since my conviction and suspension I lost everything
— my marriage to my husband and best friend, my legal
practice, all of my savings and investments. I suffered the
loss of my reputation in the community, my clients, my
employees, the respect of my professional peers and for-
mer classmates, countless “friends” — the list goes on. I
had no income. My car was repossessed. Since, December
2020, I have started the process of rebuilding my entire
life, living with my sister, who is a single mother with
two sons.

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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
317 Nebraska Reports
STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
As a convicted felon it has been difficult to find
employment opportunities. But I have worked extremely
hard to avoid bankruptcy and will continue to do so.
The initial investigation, the litigation and appeals,
have taken [their] toll. I have suffered emotionally and
have worked with my therapist to adjust to my new “nor-
mal.” The second guessing of how I got myself into this
unusual situation consume[s] me. All the things I did,
including the fateful decision to honor a request that I
be much more tha[n] a lawyer for [J.R.K.], in hindsight
[were] poor judgment on my part. At that time I was in
over my head at a time in my life where I was distracted
with other matters and trying to run a small law firm —
although not very well as the record indicates.
I have thought a lot about how all of this affected
[J.R.K.]. Having the [Adult Protective Services] worker
question her repeatedly about things that she couldn’t
possibly have understood, given her developmental dis-
ability, must have been so confusing and frustrating for
her. But the simple idea conveyed throughout was that
someone she trusted might have betrayed her. That must
have scared her and inhibited her ability to trust others
providing for her care going forward. I never wanted that
for her and am so sorry she was put through that.
It is true that I did not seek court approval for the com-
pensation I received, but I honestly believed at the time
of the actions in question, that I was permitted to do so. I
also honestly believed I was carrying out the intentions of
my co-trustee — [J.R.K.’s] stepfather. I also was carrying
out the wishes of [J.R.K.’s] deceased mother.
The Supreme Court found otherwise, and I accept that
decision. I will leave it to my lawyer to discuss aspects
of that appeal that may have some effect on the outcome
of this case. But I want the Court to understand that I
did not take any of my actions in this matter with the

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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
317 Nebraska Reports
STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
intention to harm [J.R.K.], nor to show any disrespect for
the judicial process.
I pray that the Court conclude that my current suspen-
sion, together with the satisfaction of the requirement of
my probation, be considered punishment and deterrence
enough. I was a good and competent attorney. If allowed
to continue in the practice of law, I will again become a
credit to the legal profession and my community at large.
I believe I have more good to give in this life and will
strive to do this, regardless of the Court’s decision.
I do not intend to engage in the private practice of
law. Nor do I intend to ever take on any private fiduciary
responsibility for a third party. I just want the chance to
contribute positively in my legal endeavors like I once
did, through my employment at my current company
which has been so remarkable and kind to take me on
under the circumstances.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Vanderford
Referee Report and Recommendation.
The referee filed a report on March 6, 2024, in which he
found that the allegations contained in the formal charges had
been proved by clear and convincing evidence. The referee
agreed with the relator and the respondent and concluded that
disbarment would not be an appropriate sanction.
The report acknowledged the respondent’s circumstances
of trauma and mental health and noted the respondent’s treat-
ment with a licensed mental health professional, who reports
the respondent has benefited, and continues to benefit, from
this treatment.
The report recommended that the respondent’s license to
practice law should be suspended retroactively to the date of
her temporary suspension on January 27, 2020. The referee
noted that the respondent could be eligible for early release
from probation in her criminal case in August 2024. The ref-
eree recommended that, following suspension, the respondent

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STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
complete her current regime of mental health treatment and
be under monitored supervision by another attorney upon
reinstatement.
Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings.
Neither party took exception to the referee’s report. The par-
ties filed a “Joint Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings” on
March 8, 2024. The motion asked that no further suspension be
issued and that the respondent be allowed to immediately apply
for reinstatement pursuant to Neb. Ct. R. §§ 3-310(S) (rev.
2023) and 3-803(F) (rev. 2024), after which the Nebraska State
Bar Commission can conduct a character and fitness review
and make a recommendation to the court regarding any term of
probation deemed appropriate.
On May 29, 2024, we granted the motion for judgment on
the pleadings as to the facts, but not the disciplinary sanc-
tion. Thus, it is undisputed that the respondent violated her
oath of office as an attorney licensed to practice law in the
State of Nebraska as provided in § 7-104 and violated the
provisions of the Nebraska Rules of Professional Conduct, see
§ 3-508.4(a) and (b), as set forth in the formal charges.
We directed the parties to brief the issue of discipline.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
There are no assignments of error, because neither party
filed exceptions to the referee’s report.
STANDARDS OF REVIEW
[1,2] Because attorney discipline cases are original proceed-
ings before this court, we review a referee’s recommendations
de novo on the record, reaching a conclusion independent of
the referee’s findings. State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Miller,
316 Neb. 899, 7 N.W.3d 642 (2024). When a referee makes
an express determination about the relative credibility of wit-
nesses, we give weight to that determination in our de novo
review, but are not bound by it. State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v.
Chvala, 304 Neb. 511, 935 N.W.2d 446 (2019).

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STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
ANALYSIS
We previously granted judgment on the pleadings as to the
facts alleged in the formal charges. The respondent does not
challenge the truth of the referee’s findings of fact. Based on
the foregoing, we find that the facts recited above establish
misconduct. The respondent violated her oath of office as
an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Nebraska
as provided in § 7-104 and the following provisions of the
Nebraska 	Rules 	of 	Professional 	Conduct 	on 	misconduct,
§ 3-508.4:
It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to:
(a) violate or attempt to violate the Rules of Professional
Conduct[,] knowingly assist or induce another to do so or
do so through the acts of another;
(b) commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the
lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in
other respects[.]
[3,4] Violation of a disciplinary rule concerning the practice
of law is a ground for discipline. State ex rel. Counsel for Dis.
v. Miller, supra. The basic issues in a disciplinary proceeding
against an attorney are whether discipline should be imposed
and, if so, the appropriate discipline under the circumstances.
Id. Neb. Ct. R. § 3-304 of the disciplinary rules provides that
the following may be considered as discipline for attorney
misconduct:
(A) Misconduct shall be grounds for:
(1) Disbarment by the Court; or
(2) Suspension by the Court; or
(3) Probation by the Court in lieu of or subsequent to
suspension, on such terms as the Court may designate; or
(4) Censure and reprimand by the Court; or
(5) Temporary suspension by the Court; or
(6) Private reprimand by the Committee on Inquiry or
Disciplinary Review Board.
(B) The Court may, in its discretion, impose one or
more of the disciplinary sanctions set forth above.
See, also, § 3-310(N).

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STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
[5,6] To determine whether and to what extent discipline
should be imposed in an attorney discipline proceeding, we
consider the following factors: (1) the nature of the offense,
(2) the need for deterring others, (3) the maintenance of the
reputation of the bar as a whole, (4) the protection of the
public, (5) the attitude of the respondent generally, and (6)
the respondent’s present or future fitness to continue in the
practice of law. State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Miller, 316
Neb. 899, 7 N.W.3d 642 (2024). The purpose of a disciplinary
proceeding against an attorney is not so much to punish the
attorney as it is to determine whether it is in the public inter-
est that an attorney be permitted to practice, which question
includes considerations of the protection of the public. Id.
[7-9] With respect to the imposition of attorney discipline,
each attorney discipline case must be evaluated in light of its
particular facts and circumstances. Id. For purposes of deter-
mining the proper discipline of an attorney, we consider the
attorney’s actions both underlying the events of the case and
throughout the proceeding, as well as any aggravating or miti-
gating factors. Id. The propriety of a sanction must be consid-
ered with reference to the sanctions imposed in prior similar
cases. Id.
In light of the particular facts and circumstances in this case
set forth in detail above, we suspend the respondent from the
practice of law for a period beginning from the time she was
temporarily suspended on January 27, 2020, to the date this
opinion was filed.
CONCLUSION
It is the judgment of this court that the respondent is hereby
suspended from the practice of law from January 27, 2020, to
the date this opinion was filed. The respondent is eligible to
apply for reinstatement as of the date of this opinion, which
application will be considered on the basis of a showing of her
fitness to practice law and compliance with all requirements.

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STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. VANDERFORD
Cite as 317 Neb. 771
The respondent is directed to comply with Neb. Ct. R.
§ 3-316 (rev. 2014) of the disciplinary rules, and upon failure
to do so, she shall be subject to punishment for contempt of
this court. Accordingly, the respondent is directed to pay costs
and expenses in accordance with Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 7-114
and 7-115 (Reissue 2022), as well as § 3-310(P) and Neb. Ct.
R. § 3-323(B) of the disciplinary rules within 60 days after
an order imposing costs and expenses, if any, is entered by
the court.
Judgment of suspension.