EXETER - A state Professional Conduct Committee has recommended that the Supreme Court disbar Hampton attorney and Stratham resident Arthur Randlett for misusing more than $188,000 of client funds over a seven-year period.

In September, the state’s Attorney Discipline Office recommended disbarment to the PCC. The PCC concurred with that recommendation, and directed Disciplinary Counsel Landya McCafferty to petition the state Supreme Court for disbarment.

"The Professional Conduct Committee can not disbar," said James DeHart, general counsel for the Attorney Discipline Office. "Only the Supreme Court can do that."

If the court does not find cause for disbarment, it may impose up to a six-month suspension, issue a letter of reprimand or public censure, request a longer suspension, or dismiss the case, DeHart said.

Randlett has been suspended from practicing law since April 2003, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

Holly Fazzino, an administrator for the Supreme Court, said the PCC reached a decision in September. It recently released that finding, directing McCafferty to petition for disbarment.

She filed that petition Dec. 17, DeHart said.

Randlett, who formerly lived in Exeter and is now living with his parents in Stratham, has not returned repeated calls to the News-Letter.

He also chose not to attend the PCC hearing in September.

"At some point, I assume the court will issue an order directing Mr. Randlett to file an answer to these charges," DeHart said. "If he doesn’t, I’m sure that will shorten the process."

The Attorney Discipline Office’s findings, released earlier this year, charged Randlett with failing to maintain proper financial records and failing to keep separate his own money and his business’s money from that of his clients, along with a host of other violations of the professional conduct code.

Randlett also could face fines and the cost to the state of reviewing his case, DeHart said.