BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

PANEL B

IN RE:       FRED D. DAVIS, III- Respondent Attorney

Arkansas Bar ID # 72033

CPC Docket No. 2005-022

ORDER OF INTERIM SUSPENSION

            Respondent, Circuit Judge Fred D. Davis, III, Arkansas Bar ID #72033, an attorney residing in Jefferson County, Arkansas, was found guilty by a jury in the Jefferson County Circuit Court on January 19, 2005, of the criminal offense of attempt to evade or defeat a tax in violation of ACA 26-18-201(c), a Class C felony, in Case No. CR-2004-869-2. On February 2, 2005, a Judgment was filed of record in the aforesaid criminal matter.

            Panel B of the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct (Committee), upon presentation of a file marked copy of the Judgment found that Respondent Davis had been convicted of a felony, directed that a disbarment action be instituted pursuant to the mandate of Section 16.A(2), of the Arkansas Supreme Court Procedures Regulating Professional Conduct of Attorneys at Law (“Procedures”) (Rev. 2002), and that an interim suspension of Respondent’s privilege to practice law under the authority of his Arkansas law license be imposed pursuant to Sections 7E(3)(a) and (b), and 8B(1)(a) and (b) of the Procedures.

            It is therefore ORDERED that Fred D. Davis, III, and he hereby is, SUSPENDED from the practice of law within this jurisdiction immediately upon the filing of this Order with the Clerk of the Arkansas Supreme Court.

            It is ORDERED that the Office of Professional Conduct shall prepare and file a Petition for Disbarment against Fred D. Davis, III, with the Supreme Court of Arkansas if his Arkansas law license is not timely surrendered.

ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT COMMITTEE

ON PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT - PANEL B

By:______________________________________ J. Michael Cogbill, Panel B Chair

Date: _________________________________