Chap. 954.—An ACT to amend and re-enact sections 3195 and 3196 of the
code of Virginia, and to repeal section 3197 of same code, in reference to
disbarring attorneys at law.

Approved March 7, 1900.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That sections
thirty-one hundred and ninety-five and thirty-one hundred and ninety-
six of the code of Virginia be amended and re-enacted so as to read as
follows:

§ 3195. Any court before which an attorney has qualified, on proof
being made that he has been convicted of a felony or of any malprac-
tice, or of any corrupt unprofessional conduct, shall revoke his license
tu practice therein or suspend the same for such time as the court may
prescribe.

§ 3196. If the supreme court of appeals, or any court of record
of this state, observe any malpractice or any corrupt unprofessional
conduct therein by any attorney, or if complaint, verified by affidavit,
be made to any such court of malpractice or of corrupt unprofessional
conduct by an attorney therein, or if complaint, verified by affidavit, be
made to any court of record (other than the supreme court of appeals)
of any malpractice or any corrupt unprofessional conduct by an attorney
practicing therein, such court shall issue a rule against such attornev
to show cause why his license to practice law shall not be revoked or
suspended. Upon the return of such rule a jury shall be impanelled,
when required by the defendant, and if he be found guilty by the court
or by the jury, where one is impanelled, his license to practice in such
court shall be revoked, or suspended for such time as the court may
prescribe. When the case is in the supreme court of appeals the court
shall direct one of its officers to summon a jury from the county or
corporation in which said court is then being held, to be impanelled and
paid as in cases of misdemeanor in the county or corporation court:
and any revocation or suspension of license by said supreme court of
appeals shall operate and be effective in all the courts of this com-
mionwealth. If the case be in the county court the defendant, or the
party making the complaint, or the court of its motion, shall have
the right to remove the same to the circuit court of the county, to be
proceeded with therein as if the case had originated in the latter court.
Any judgment or conviction upon such removal shall operate to revoke
or suspend the license of the defendant to practice in such county and
circuit court. The words “any malpractice or any corrupt unprofes-
sional conduct,” as used in this section, shall be construed to include
the failure without sufficient cause and within a reasonable time after
demand of any attorney at law to pay over and deliver to the person
entitled thereto, within a reasonable time, any money, security or prop-
erty which has come into his hands as such attorney. In anv proceed-
ings to revoke or suspend the license of an attorney under this or the
preceding section, the complainant shall be entitled to representation
by counsel.

2. Be it further enacted, That section thirty-one hundred and ninety-
seven of the code of Virginia be, and the same is hereby, repealed.

3. This act shall be in force from its passage.