In re Veltman
CourtDistrict of Columbia Court of Appeals
Date FiledSeptember 10, 2026
Docket26-Bg-0180
StatusPublished
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Full Opinion
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURT OF APPEALS
No. 26-BG-0180
IN RE DAWN SUNSHINE VELTMAN,
Respondent.
A Suspended Member of the Bar of the
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Bar Registration No. 177123 DDN: 2026-D019
BEFORE: Blackburne-Rigsby, Chief Judge, Easterly, Associate Judge, and
Glickman, Senior Judge.
ORDER
(FILED – September 10, 2026)
On consideration of the certified copy of an order from the Supreme Court of
Maryland placing respondent on disability inactive status by consent; this court’s
March 20, 2026, order suspending respondent pending final disposition of this
proceeding and directing her to show cause why she should not be suspended
pursuant to D.C. Bar R. XI, § 13, in reciprocity with the Supreme Court of Maryland;
and the statement of Disciplinary Counsel, in which he requests that respondent’s
reinstatement be conditioned upon her reinstatement in Maryland; and it appearing
that respondent has not filed a response to the show cause order or her D.C. Bar
R. XI, § 14(g), affidavit; and it further appearing that respondent has not opposed
the proposed reinstatement condition, it is
ORDERED that Dawn Sunshine Veltman is hereby indefinitely suspended
from the practice of law in the District of Columbia pursuant to D.C. Bar R. XI,
§ 13(e). See In re Sibley, 990 A.2d 483, 487-88 (D.C. 2010) (explaining that there is
a rebuttable presumption in favor of imposition of identical discipline and exceptions
to this presumption should be rare); In re Fuller, 930 A.2d 194, 198 (D.C. 2007) (per
curiam) (explaining that the rebuttable presumption of identical reciprocal discipline
applies to all cases in which the respondent does not participate); In re Stanley, 769
A.2d 141, 141 (D.C. 2001) (per curiam) (providing that an indefinite disability
suspension is the functional equivalent of inactive status based on disability); In re
Nelson, 677 A.2d 509, 509 (D.C. 1996) (per curiam) (explaining that “we treat
No. 26-BG-0180
suspension by another jurisdiction as one warranting reciprocal discipline” and
“functionally identical discipline . . . may be imposed pursuant to D.C. Bar R. XI,
§ 13(e)” (citation modified)). Reinstatement shall be governed by the requirements
of D.C. Bar R. XI, § 13(g), with the one-year waiting period to be eligible for
reinstatement to run from the time respondent files her D.C. Bar R. XI, § 14(g),
affidavit, and reinstatement shall further be conditioned on respondent’s
reinstatement in Maryland. See In re Stewart, 308 A.3d 1204, 1205 (D.C. 2024) (per
curiam) (conditioning reinstatement in this jurisdiction on reinstatement in
Tennessee where the respondent consented to disability inactive status in Tennessee
and did not object to conditioning reinstatement on reinstatement in the originating
jurisdiction); In re Cornish, 691 A.2d 156, 158 n.3 (D.C. 1997) (per curiam)
(“Although our rules are not entirely clear, . . . we appear to have interpreted § 13(g)
as making an attorney eligible for reinstatement only after a year has passed, absent
court order shortening that interval, and to measure that period dependent upon the
filing of the affidavit required by § 14(g).”).
PER CURIAM