Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 76A.djvu/170

–74– -74§ 549. Appearance The accused shall appear at the time appointed in the order, and answer the accusation, unless, for sufficient cause, the court assigns another day for that purpose. If he does not appear, the court may proceed and determine the accusation in his absence. § 550. Answer The accused may answer to the accusation either by objecting to its sufficiency or by denying it. If he objects to the sufficiency of the accusation, the objection must be in writing, but need not be in any specific form. It is sufficient if it presents intelligibly the grounds of the objection. If he denies the accusation, the denial may be oral and without oath, and shall be entered upon the minutes. If an objection to the sitfficiency of the accusation is not sustained, the accused shall answer within the time designated by the court. § 551. Trial If the accused pleads guilty, or refuses to answer the accusation, the court shall proceed to judgment. If he denies the matters charged, the court shall, at such time as it appoints, proceed to try the accusation. § 552. Reference to take depositions The court may order a reference to a committee to take depositions in the matter. § 553. Judgment (a) Upon the receipt of a certified copy of the record of conviction of an attorney of a cnme involving moral turpitude, the district court shall suspend the attorney until judgment in uie case has become final. When judgment of conviction becomes final the court shall order the attorney suspended or disbarred. (b) When the attorney has been found guilty of the charges made in proceedings not based upon a record of conviction, judgment shall be rendered disbarring him, suspending him from practice for a limited time, or otherwise disciplining him, according to the gravity of the offense charged. (c) During a suspension or disbarment the attorney shall be precluded from practicing as an attorney at law or as an attorney or agent of another in and before all courts, commissions, and tribunals in the Canal Zone, and from practicing as attorney at law in any manner and from holding himself out to the public as an attorney at law. When disbarred his name shall be struck from the roll of attorneys.

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