In re Payne

── In re Payne ── Court: District of Columbia Court of Appeals Date: April 23, 2026 Category: General Notice: This order is subject to formal revision before publication in the Atlantic and Maryland Reporters. Users are requested to notify the Clerk of the Court of any formal errors so that corrections may be made before the bound volumes go to press. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURT OF APPEALS No. 26-BG-0209 IN RE WILLIAM PAYNE, ESQUIRE, Respondent. A Member of the Bar of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals BDN: 26-PD-004 Bar Registration No. 419255 DDN: 2021-D101 et al. BEFORE: Beckwith, McLeese, and Howard, Associate Judges. ORDER (FILED—April 23, 2026) On consideration of Disciplinary Counsel’s motion for leave to file under seal the Board on Professional Responsibility’s lodged consent petition to indefinitely suspend respondent from the practice of law based on disability pursuant to D.C. Bar R. XI, § 13(c) and (e), it is ORDERED that the motion for leave is granted, and the Clerk shall file the lodged petition, which contains sensitive medical information, under seal. It is FURTHER ORDERED that the petition is granted, and respondent William Payne is indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in the District of Columbia on the grounds of disability, effective immediately, and any pending investigations or other disciplinary matters against respondent are held in abeyance. See D.C. Bar R. XI, § 13(c). It is FURTHER ORDERED that respondent’s attention is drawn to the requirements of D.C. Bar R. XI, §§ 14 and 16, relating to suspended attorneys, and the provisions of D.C. Bar R XI, § 13(g), relating to reinstatement. It is FURTHER ORDERED, sua sponte, that the case number is changed from No. 26-BS-0209 to No. 26-BG-0209 (as shown in the caption above) to reflect that this No. 26-BG-0209 matter is no longer “confidential” upon the entry of this order of suspension, see D.C. Bar R. XI, 17(b), although the petition will remain under seal as ordered. PER CURIAM