The referee in a pending discipline matter has recommended an 18 month suspension, a sanction Boyle has argued would "very well contribute to the demise of her realistic ability to practice law." The Supreme Court has not set a date for a decision in that ethics case.
In a decision Thursday,the court noted that Boyle's discipline history and the nature of her rules violations demanded the six month suspension and reapplication, overriding the four-month suspension recommended by the Office of Lawyer Regulation and the referee in her professional discipline case.
"It is imperative that to resume the practice of law in Wisconsin, Attorney Boyle must show this court that she has taken steps to avoid similar misconduct in the future," the court wrote.
In May 2012, the court suspended Boyle for 60 daysand ordered she pay about $5,000 in restitution and $11,000 in costs. The suspension followed a February order from the 7the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that banished her from practicing in the federal courts in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.
Thursday's Supreme Court order cited many of the same types of violations that led to Boyle's 2012 suspension -- lack of communication with clients, including about fees; charging an unreasonable fee; and failing to reimburse unearned portions of fees.
The court ordered Boyle to repay a former client in the current disciplinary case $2,500.
The case involved ten counts involving two client matters from 2007 to 2010. In one, Boyle took on a criminal appeal in federal court for $20,000 without detailing what efforts she expected to make in the case. The client later complained that Boyle did not do much of anything on his case, and refused to answer dozens of letters and calls from prison.
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Well-known Milwaukee criminal defense attorney suspended again