Four lawyers have been disciplined by the Rhode Island Supreme Court, according to The Providence Journal. The rulings were issued by the court last week.

The four lawyers disciplined by the court are George E. Babcock, William F. Holt, Robert F. McNelis and Augustus Charos Jr.

Babcock was suspended by the court for one year. He is Pawtucket and is known for handling cases involving homeowners fighting foreclosures that stem from the Great Recession.

Babcock was suspended for violations of the Bankruptcy Court including filing documents not signed by a client.



He has been suspended in both Bankruptcy Court and from practicing in federal District Court. He also received a 30-day suspension that begins on December 1 and prevents him from practicing in the Supreme Court.

In their ruling, the court said, “We find [Babcock’s] conduct … to be troubling and worthy of sanction.”

Holt was suspended for misconduct in his representation of four clients in Family Court. His suspension will last three years. Holt practices in Cranston.

One of the cases that led to his suspension involved Holt modifying a restraining order filed against one of his clients. In another of his cases, Holt took divorce documents in order to give his client an unfair advantage.

A third violation saw Holt prepare documents in order to claim a larger share of pension benefits for a client even though it was larger than what was agreed upon in a divorce settlement. The fourth violation saw Holt write a misleading order for a custody and visitation case surrounding a client’s child.

The court said Holt displayed a “persistent pattern of deceiving judges. [Holt] did not just prejudice the administration of justice, he sabotaged it.”

McNelis has been censured by the court for misconduct in representing clients in Bankruptcy Court.

He failed to provide his clients with notices from the court multiple times and filed documents that were not signed by clients.

McNelis has received a one year suspension from practicing in both federal District Court and in Bankruptcy Court.

McNelis was not suspended from practicing in the Supreme Court.

Charos Jr. was censured by the court for violations committed in Bankruptcy Court.

Charos filed inaccurate disclosures with the court involving compensation from a client. He also did not disclose fee arrangements with another firm.

Charos was also accused of not providing his clients with notices filed by the court and filed documents without signatures from his clients.

He received a two year suspension from practicing in federal District Court and Bankruptcy Court.