What did the court decide?

The court accepted John Gowell Jr.'s nondisciplinary resignation and removed him from the New York roll of attorneys effective immediately.

Who is affected by this decision?

Gowell is prohibited from practicing law or holding himself out as a lawyer in New York; clients and courts should no longer expect him to act as an attorney in this state.

What must Gowell do next?

He must surrender any Attorney Secure Pass to the Office of Court Administration within 30 days of the decision.

Was this resignation disciplinary?

No; the resignation was accepted for nondisciplinary reasons and the Attorney Grievance Committee did not oppose it.

Can this decision be challenged?

The opinion does not discuss further appeal; parties generally may seek further review if authorized, but this acceptance of a nondisciplinary resignation is an administrative order of the court.

Matter of Gowell

Docket PM-85-26

Court of record · Indexed in NoticeRegistry archive · AI-enriched for research

OtherGranted

Filed: Apr 30, 2026 · yesterday
Jurisdiction: New York
Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
Type: Opinion
Case type: Other
Disposition: Granted
Citation: 2026 NY Slip Op 02715
Docket: PM-85-26

Application for permission to resign from the New York bar for nondisciplinary reasons under the Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters

Summary

The Appellate Division, Third Department granted attorney John R. Gowell Jr.'s request to resign from the New York bar for nondisciplinary reasons. The court reviewed Gowell's sworn affidavit and the Attorney Grievance Committee's response, found him eligible under the applicable rule, and accepted his resignation. As a result, his name is stricken from the roll of attorneys, he is prohibited from practicing or holding himself out as an attorney in New York, and he must surrender any Attorney Secure Pass within 30 days. The AGC did not oppose the application.

Issues Decided

Whether the attorney is eligible to resign from the New York bar for nondisciplinary reasons under 22 NYCRR § 1240.22
Whether the court should accept the attorney's nondisciplinary resignation when the Attorney Grievance Committee does not oppose it

Court's Reasoning

The court examined Gowell's sworn affidavit and the AGC's correspondence and determined he met the criteria for a nondisciplinary resignation under the applicable rule. Because the AGC did not oppose the application and the record supported eligibility, the court found acceptance appropriate. The court therefore ordered removal from the roll and imposed the usual restrictions and administrative steps tied to a nondisciplinary resignation.

Authorities Cited

Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters22 NYCRR § 1240.22

Parties

Petitioner: John R. Gowell Jr.
Respondent: Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department
Judge: Pritzker, J.P.
Judge: Ceresia, J.
Judge: McShan, J.
Judge: Powers, J.
Judge: Ryba, J.

Key Dates

Affidavit sworn: 2026-03-11
Affidavit filed: 2026-03-16
AGC correspondence: 2026-04-24
Decision entered: 2026-04-30

What You Should Do Next

1
Surrender Attorney Secure Pass
Within 30 days of the decision, Gowell must surrender any Attorney Secure Pass to the Office of Court Administration as ordered.
2
Cease practicing in New York
Gowell should immediately stop practicing law or representing himself as an attorney in New York in any capacity to comply with the court order.
3
Consult counsel if seeking reinstatement
If Gowell later wants to resume practice in New York, he should consult counsel regarding the process to seek reinstatement or further relief from the court.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the court decide?: The court accepted John Gowell Jr.'s nondisciplinary resignation and removed him from the New York roll of attorneys effective immediately.
Who is affected by this decision?: Gowell is prohibited from practicing law or holding himself out as a lawyer in New York; clients and courts should no longer expect him to act as an attorney in this state.
What must Gowell do next?: He must surrender any Attorney Secure Pass to the Office of Court Administration within 30 days of the decision.
Was this resignation disciplinary?: No; the resignation was accepted for nondisciplinary reasons and the Attorney Grievance Committee did not oppose it.
Can this decision be challenged?: The opinion does not discuss further appeal; parties generally may seek further review if authorized, but this acceptance of a nondisciplinary resignation is an administrative order of the court.

The above suggestions and answers are AI-generated for informational purposes only. They may contain errors. NoticeRegistry assumes no responsibility for their accuracy. Consult a qualified attorney before relying on them.

Full Filing Text

Matter of Gowell - 2026 NY Slip Op 02715

Matter of Gowell

2026 NY Slip Op 02715

April 30, 2026

Appellate Division, Third Department

In the Matter of John R. Gowell Jr., an Attorney. (Attorney Registration No. 5453857)

Decided and Entered:April 30, 2026

PM-85-26

Calendar Date: April 27, 2026

Before: Pritzker, J.P., Ceresia, Mcshan, Powers And Ryba, JJ.

John R. Gowell Jr., Jamestown, Rhode Island, pro se.

Monica A. Duffy, Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, Albany (Alison M. Coan of counsel), for Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department.

Per Curiam.

John R. Gowell Jr. was admitted to practice by this Court in 2016 and lists a business address in Jamestown, Rhode Island with the Office of Court Administration. Gowell now seeks leave to resign from the New York bar for nondisciplinary reasons (
see
Rules for Atty Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.22 [a]). The Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department (hereinafter AGC) advises that it does not oppose Gowell's application.

Upon reading Gowell's affidavit sworn to March 11, 2026 and filed March 16, 2026, and upon reading the April 24, 2026 correspondence in response by the Deputy Chief Attorney for AGC, and having determined that Gowell is eligible to resign for nondisciplinary reasons, we grant his application and accept his resignation.

Pritzker, J.P., Ceresia, McShan, Powers and Ryba, JJ., concur.

ORDERED that John R. Gowell Jr.'s application for permission to resign is granted and his nondisciplinary resignation is accepted; and it is further

ORDERED that John R. Gowell Jr.'s name is hereby stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law of the State of New York, effective immediately, and until further order of this Court (
see generally
Rules for Atty Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.22 [b]); and it is further

ORDERED that John R. Gowell Jr. is commanded to desist and refrain from the practice of law in any form in the State of New York, either as principal or as agent, clerk or employee of another; and Gowell is hereby forbidden to appear as an attorney or counselor-at-law before any court, judge, justice, board, commission or other public authority, or to give to another an opinion as to the law or its application, or any advice in relation thereto, or to hold himself out in any way as an attorney and counselor-at-law in this State; and it is further

ORDERED that John R. Gowell Jr. shall, within 30 days of the date of this decision, surrender to the Office of Court Administration any Attorney Secure Pass issued to him.