Bar Discipline Roundup: Former Durham County DA suspended, Raleigh attorney reprimanded

Attorney: Tracey E. Cline

Location: Durham

Bar membership: Member since 1989

Disciplinary action: Suspended from the practice of law for five years on June 22. Cline may apply for a stay of the remaining portion of the suspension after two years so long as she complies with certain conditions.

Background: Cline was the district attorney for Durham County. Beginning in 2011, Cline made repeated statements impugning the honesty and integrity of Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson. In documents filed with the court, Cline alleged that Hudson was corrupt, a statement that was false and made with reckless disregard of its truth or falsity. Around the same time, Cline submitted requests for three inmates’ prison records to which she was not entitled, making false and misleading statements to the court about the reason for her request and failing to provide notice of the requests to the inmates. After being publicly admonished by the court for making those false statements, Cline continued to make false and inflammatory statements about Hudson. As a result of the repeated unsupported allegations against Hudson, Superior Court Judge Robert Hobgood entered an order removing Cline from office.

Previous discipline: None

Attorney: F. Grey Powell

Location: Raleigh

Bar membership: Member since 1998

Disciplinary action: Reprimanded on May 6

Background: In June 2012, Powell entered into an employment agreement with a California law firm to provide services for the firm’s North Carolina clients. The law firm was not registered with the North Carolina State Bar or the Secretary of State’s Office, and its partners were not licensed to practice law in the state. Powell was listed as a “Partner” on the firm’s website. His primary involvement with the firm entailed reviewing loan modification documents for spelling and clerical errors. He was not paid by the firm’s clients, nor did he routinely communicate with them.

Previous discipline: None

All information contained in the Bar Discipline Roundup is compiled from reports provided by the North Carolina State Bar and edited by staff writer David Donovan. He can be reached at [email protected]