Local attorney censured in New York after suspension in Florida and Michigan
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) — A local attorney has been censured by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division of the Third Judicial Department after they were suspended in Florida and Michigan in 2023 following a violation of Florida Law when representing a criminal defendant.
According to Court documents, Attorney Hanna M. Renna, currently practicing in Chemung and Schuyler County, was censured by the state on March 14 after action was taken in Florida following a case where she was suspended there for 90 days in January 2023 and then 90 days in Michigan.
The documents state that while representing a criminal defendant in Florida, Renna used an altered photo pack in her deposition of a child witness in violation of Florida Law. The documents say this led to the witness misidentifying the alleged perpetrator of the crime as compared to a prior statement they gave to law enforcement.
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As a result of this situation, the documents say Renna was suspended from practicing law in Florida in January 2023 and reinstated in May 2023 after a 90-day suspension. The release states that Renna was also disciplined in Michigan with a 90-day suspension and was reinstated in September of 2023. Along with the suspensions, Renna was directed to attend the Florida Bar’s Ethics School and Professionalism Workshop within six months of the court’s order along with paying fees and costs.
The documents reveal that Renna attempted to form an opposition to the court’s ruling by saying that she would not have been disciplined under the same set of facts had the misconduct occurred in New York as opposed to Florida.
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The court responded to the opposition by saying her misconduct implicated four of Florida’s Rules Regulating the Florida Bar which are similar if not identical, to New York’s analogous rules, thus her misconduct in Florida would also be misconduct in New York if done here.
Despite the responses that the mistake was made in good faith and was a consequence of being a public servant with a heavy caseload, the court still had concerns that as a practicing attorney with 10 years of experience in the field of criminal law, Reena was unaware of case law prohibiting the use of altered photo packs in witness deposition.
The court states that Reena is practicing in New York State in a position of considerable public trust. With that in mind, and a review of all of the facts to protect the public and prevent others from engaging in similar misconduct, Reena was censured.
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