IN THE SUPREME COURT, STATE OF WYOMING

2024 WY 134A

October Term, A.D. 2024

December 12, 2024

BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY, WYOMING STATE BAR,

Petitioner, D-24-0005 v.

GAYLA K. AUSTIN, WSB #6-4397,

Respondent.

NUNC PRO TUNC ORDER OF TEN-MONTH SUSPENSION

[¶1] This matter came before the Court upon a Report and Recommendation for Order of Ten-Month Suspension to be Effective March 1, 2024, filed herein November 6, 2024, by the Board of Professional Responsibility for the Wyoming State Bar, pursuant to Rule 16 of the Wyoming Rules of Disciplinary Procedure. The Court, after a careful review of the Board of Professional Responsibility’s Report and Recommendation and the file, finds that the Report and Recommendation should be approved, confirmed and adopted by the Court, and that Respondent Gayla K. Austin should be suspended from the practice of law for ten-months. It is, therefore,

[¶2] ADJUDGED AND ORDERED that the Board of Professional Responsibility’s Report and Recommendation for Order of Ten-Month Suspension to be Effective March 1, 2024, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein, shall be, and the same hereby is, approved, confirmed, and adopted by this Court; and it is further

[¶3] ADJUDGED AND ORDERED that, as a result of the conduct set forth in the Report and Recommendation for Order of Ten-Month Suspension to be Effective March 1, 2024, Gayla K. Austin shall be suspended from the practice of law for ten months, with the period of suspension to retroactively begin March 1, 2024; and it is further;

[¶4] ADJUDGED AND ORDERED that, during the period of suspension, Respondent shall comply with the requirements of the Wyoming Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, particularly Rule 21 of those rules. That rule governs the duties of disbarred and suspended attorneys; and it is further

[¶5] ORDERED that, pursuant to Rule 25 of the Wyoming Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, Ms. Austin shall reimburse the Wyoming State Bar the amount of $3,842.50, representing the costs incurred in handling this matter, as well as pay the administrative fees of $1,500.00. Ms. Austin shall pay the total amount of $5,342.50 to the Wyoming State Bar on or before December 23, 2024. If Ms. Austin fails to make payment in the time allotted, execution may issue on the award; and it is further

[¶6] ORDERED that the Clerk of this Court shall docket this Order of Ten-Month Suspension, along with the incorporated Report and Recommendation for Order of Ten- Month Suspension to be Effective March 1, 2024, as a matter coming regularly before this Court as a public record; and it is further

[¶7] ORDERED that, pursuant to Rule 9(b) of the Wyoming Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, this Order of Ten-Month Suspension, along with the incorporated Report and Recommendation for Order of Ten-Month Suspension to be Effective March 1, 2024, shall be published in the Wyoming Reporter and the Pacific Reporter; and it is further

[¶8] ORDERED that the Clerk of this Court cause a copy of this Order of Ten-Month Suspension to be served upon Respondent Gayla K. Austin.

[¶9] DATED this 12th day of December, 2024.

BY THE COURT:*

/s/

KATE M. FOX Chief Justice

*Justice Jarosh took no part in consideration of this matter