California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from Ballard v. State Bar, 197 Cal.Rptr. 556, 35 Cal.3d 274, 673 P.2d 226 (Cal. 1983):
The words of this court in Grove v. State Bar, supra, 66 Cal.2d at page 685, 58 Cal.Rptr. 564, 427 P.2d 164 are equally appropriate here: "While we sympathize with petitioner's psychological difficulties and commend him on his frankness in recognizing his problems, we cannot find that the psychiatric report states any grounds for excusing him from observation of at least the minimum standards of professional conduct. We realize that in many cases psychoneurotic problems may underlie professional misconduct and moral turpitude. In this area our duty lies in the assurance that the public will be protected in the performance of the high duties of the attorney rather than in an analysis of the reasons for his delinquency. Our primary concern must be the fulfillment of proper professional standards, whatever the unfortunate cause, emotional or otherwise, for the attorney's failure to do so."
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