Law license suspended for Dothan attorney

The Alabama State Bar Association suspended the license to practice law for a veteran Dothan attorney on Tuesday.

Tony McLain, general counsel for the state bar association, said the disciplinary commission of the state bar handed down the order of suspension against Randy Brackin after the office of general counsel filed a petition of suspension. McLain said his office filed a petition of suspension based on the recent felony charges filed against Brackin.

Houston County Sheriff’s investigators arrested Brackin, 61, last week, and charged him with 11 felony counts of possession of child pornography. Brackin faces one to 10 years in prison if convicted of each class C felony charge.

“We have to come in and protect the clients and their cases,” McLain said. “You can’t very well represent a client while you’re sitting in jail.”

Investigators arrested Brackin Thursday night. He has been held in the Houston County Jail without bond since his arrest.

According to court records, since his arrest a Houston County judge has ordered Brackin to have a mental examination. Brackin has a bond hearing scheduled today in front District Court Lori Collier Ingram. He is being represented by attorney Denny Holloway.

McLain said Brackin’s license to practice law was suspended indefinitely. But he said Brackin could file a petition to dissolve the suspension.

Brackin has practiced law in Houston County for nearly 36 years.

According to court records, presiding Circuit Court Judge Brad Mendheim appointed attorney Raymond Todd Derrick to serve as the trustee for Brackin’s pending case files. According to the records, Derrick will report periodically to the Alabama State Bar Association’s Office of General Counsel of his actions as trustee.

McLain said the trustee will take an inventory of Brackin’s client files.

Court records also showed Brackin represented at least one client with similar pending felony possession of child pornography charges with a trial date set for next month. Brackin worked as an attorney in criminal and civil court.

“The lawyer pretty much can’t do anything with them (clients) once they’ve been suspended,” McLain said. “The big push there is to make sure no client’s cases fall in the hole or slip through the crack.”