Florida Supreme Court Disciplines 16 Attorneys

The state court issued a series of disciplinary orders ranging from public reprimands to disbarments.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Financial Crime

Florida Supreme Court Disciplines 16 Attorneys

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The Florida Supreme Court has disciplined 16 attorneys across the state for professional misconduct, including criminal convictions and trust account violations. The orders, issued between late September and late October, include three disbarments and 11 suspensions.

Why it matters

These disciplinary actions serve to uphold professional standards within the legal community by addressing negligence, criminal activity, and the mishandling of client funds. The court process ensures that attorneys facing serious charges or ethical breaches are held accountable for their actions.

The Florida Supreme Court issued disciplinary orders involving three disbarments, one license revocation, 11 suspensions, and one public reprimand. Disbarred attorneys are prohibited from seeking readmission for at least five years.

The players

Florida Supreme Court

This is the highest judicial body in the state of Florida and holds the authority to regulate the practice of law and oversee attorney conduct.

W. Jeffrey Barnes

He is an attorney based in Boca Raton who was recently disbarred by the state supreme court.

Manisha Maraj

She is an attorney who received a three-year suspension from the court.

Daniel Foster Dickenson

He is an attorney who was issued an 18-month suspension for his professional conduct.

Nabil Ibrahim Abu Nahlah

He is an attorney who received a 90-day suspension following a federal fraud conviction.

The details

Misconduct cases cited by the court include failure to communicate with clients, criminal convictions such as aggravated stalking and federal fraud, and the misappropriation of client funds. Specific instances involved $92,000 in misappropriated funds and a $200,000 shortfall discovered during a forensic audit of a family estate.

Timeline

  1. Sept. 24, 2026: The court began issuing the current series of disciplinary orders.

  2. Sept. 25, 2026: The disbarment of W. Jeffrey Barnes became effective.

  3. Oct. 8, 2026: The three-year suspension of Manisha Maraj took effect.

  4. Oct. 22, 2026: The court issued a specific order regarding Daniel Foster Dickenson.

  5. Oct. 28, 2026: The final disciplinary order in the current cycle was issued.

Legal Context

These actions are governed by the state’s established disciplinary framework, which mandates strict oversight of attorney conduct to protect the integrity of the judicial system. The volume of cases reflects ongoing enforcement of professional standards against both civil and criminal breaches.

Clients currently represented by these attorneys must seek new legal counsel to ensure their cases or financial matters continue without disruption. Individuals who believe their own legal funds were mishandled are advised to contact the Florida Bar for information on consumer protection programs.

The takeaway

Maintaining transparency and clear communication with legal counsel is essential to preventing trust account disputes and professional negligence. Clients should regularly review billing statements and account updates to ensure their financial assets are handled appropriately.

Further reading

For more information on legal oversight, see the Financial Crime section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by WPEC.

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