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Jodi Arias' attorney disbarred over trial tell-all book
By Jared Dillingham
cbs5az.com
PHOENIX (KPHO/KTVK) - The man who defended convicted murderer Jodi Arias is no longer allowed to practice law.
Laurence "Kirk" Nurmi spent years on the Arias case, even though he asked to be removed and Arias asked for different counsel.
After the trial, Nurmi published the first in what was to be a series of books on the trial.
The bar complaint filed against Nurmi claims the book, called "Trapped with Ms. Arias," contained confidential and private discussions with his client, which she never approved for publication.
The agreement specifically says Nurmi violated a rule, which says lawyers cannot reveal confidential information about a client for his or her own benefit.
[ORIGINAL STORY: Jodi Arias' former attorney could face 4-year suspension]
"What he did was knowingly and intentionally wrong. His book violates his duty to protect confidential information," attorney Karen Clark, who represents Arias in her bar charge against Nurmi, said in a statement Monday night.
Prosecutor Juan Martinez, who gained fame and also wrote a book about the Arias trial, is also facing an ethics complaint.
[RELATED: Jodi Arias prosecutor, defense lawyer write tell-all books]
Martinez is accused of unprofessional behavior at trial.
While Martinez is appealing his probation sentence, Nurmi will not fight the agreement which disbars him.
Nurmi was diagnosed with cancer after the Arias trial. He's in remission now and appears to be focused on living a healthier lifestyle and promoting nutrition.
Earlier in the fall, Nurmi appeared on "Good Morning Arizona" to talk about cancer and nutrition.
Nurmi declined to comment on the agreement, which restricts him from practicing law.
A communications officer with the Arizona State Bar says a presiding disciplinary judge still has the option of accepting, rejecting, or modifying the consent agreement.
Arias' attorney's full statement is below:
Mr. Nurmi's self-published book about his representation of Ms. Arias revealed confidential and privileged information, and violated his most basic ethical duties as a lawyer. What he did was knowingly and intentionally wrong. His book violates his duty to protect confidential information, and also contains lies about his client and other misstatements about the case. He wrote the book in a selfish and misguided attempt to "redeem" his public image and enrich himself. In doing so, he caused serious harm to the public's understanding of the role of lawyers in protecting their clients.
Ms. Arias appreciates that the State Bar took this matter seriously, and that Mr. Nurmi has consented to disbarment concerning his misconduct. Mr. Nurmi previously entered into a consent agreement with the State Bar, for a 4 year suspension. Ms. Arias objected to the consent agreement for two reasons: (1) the consent did not address the lies he told about her and about her case in his book; and, (2) the conduct he admitted to, as well as the lies in his book, should have resulted in his disbarment.
The fact that Mr. Nurmi has now been disbarred is appropriate based on his egregious violations of his ethical duties to his former client, Jodi Arias.
http://www.cbs5az.com/story/33766989...-tell-all-book
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