The Puerto Rico Supreme Court has suspended attorney Antonio Ortiz Rodríguez immediately and indefinitely from practicing law and serving as a notary, citing violations of Canon 9 of the Professional Ethics Code. The disciplinary action was announced in a Per Curiam decision issued December 5, 2025, in case AB-2025-0059.
Ortiz Rodríguez was admitted to practice law on November 7, 1979, and took his oath as a notary on January 15, 1980, giving him more than four decades of legal practice before this disciplinary action. The suspension affects both his law practice and notary services, representing one of the most serious disciplinary measures available to the court.
The disciplinary proceedings began following a complaint filed on March 7, 2025, by Justina Santiago Rivera against Ortiz Rodríguez. In her complaint, Santiago Rivera alleged that the attorney failed to exercise due diligence in performing his professional duties. As a result of this negligence, she claimed that a default judgment was entered against her in a community property liquidation lawsuit.
According to the complaint, Santiago Rivera also alleged that Ortiz Rodríguez failed to keep her adequately informed about the status of her legal proceedings. This lack of communication allegedly forced her to personally visit the court to obtain information about her case status and seek guidance on the proceedings.
The communication breakdown between attorney and client appears to have been a central issue in the disciplinary case. Professional ethics codes typically require attorneys to maintain regular communication with clients and keep them reasonably informed about the status of their matters. The failure to do so can constitute a violation of professional conduct standards.
In her complaint, Santiago Rivera requested that if Ortiz Rodríguez was no longer going to represent her, he should return the fees she had paid in advance for his legal services. This request suggests that the attorney-client relationship had deteriorated to the point where continued representation was not viable.
Canon 9 of Puerto Rico's Professional Ethics Code, which forms the basis for the disciplinary action, addresses professional competence and diligence requirements for attorneys. Violations of this canon typically involve failures to provide competent representation, maintain adequate preparation, or exercise reasonable diligence in handling client matters.
The immediate and indefinite nature of the suspension indicates the severity with which the Puerto Rico Supreme Court viewed the violations. Unlike temporary suspensions with defined end dates, an indefinite suspension requires the attorney to petition for reinstatement and demonstrate fitness to return to practice. This type of disciplinary action typically follows serious misconduct or patterns of behavior that undermine public confidence in the legal profession.
The Per Curiam decision means the ruling was issued by the court as a whole rather than authored by a specific justice. This approach is common in disciplinary matters and indicates unanimous agreement among the justices regarding the appropriate sanction.
The timing of the complaint in March 2025 and the December suspension suggests that the disciplinary investigation and proceedings took approximately nine months to complete. During this period, the court would have reviewed evidence, potentially conducted hearings, and considered appropriate sanctions based on the nature and severity of the professional conduct violations.
For clients who may have ongoing matters with Ortiz Rodríguez, the immediate suspension means he cannot continue representing them or performing notary services. Clients will need to secure alternative legal representation for pending matters and may need to address any impacts from the alleged negligence in their cases.
The disciplinary action serves as a reminder of the professional obligations attorneys owe to their clients, including duties of competence, diligence, and communication. The Puerto Rico Supreme Court's decision reinforces that violations of these fundamental professional responsibilities can result in serious consequences, including loss of the privilege to practice law.
This case also highlights the importance of the attorney disciplinary system in protecting the public and maintaining professional standards within the legal profession. When attorneys fail to meet their professional obligations, disciplinary proceedings provide a mechanism for accountability and help preserve public trust in the legal system.
The indefinite suspension of Ortiz Rodríguez demonstrates that the Puerto Rico Supreme Court takes professional misconduct seriously and is prepared to impose significant sanctions when attorneys violate their ethical obligations to clients and the profession.