People v. Braden.
No. 22PDJ065. 1/10/2023. Stipulation to Discipline.
February 4, 2023
The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved the parties’ stipulation to discipline and suspended Alexander Scott Braden (attorney registration number 54616) for one year and one day. To be reinstated to the practice of law in Colorado, Braden must petition the Presiding Disciplinary Judge for reinstatement and prove by clear and convincing evidence that he has been rehabilitated from his misconduct, has complied with all disciplinary orders and rules, and is fit to practice law. The suspension was effective February 14, 2023.
On the night of February 20, 2021, Braden and his girlfriend drank heavily before returning to Braden’s apartment. Once there, Braden pulled out a pistol. When Braden’s girlfriend went to the bathroom to get ready for bed, she heard a gunshot, which was extremely loud and made her ears ring. A bullet hole was later found two feet from where she had been standing.
Braden walked toward his girlfriend holding the gun. Scared and crying, she asked him why he discharged the firearm in her direction. Braden threatened to blame her for firing the gun. Because she did not feel safe in the apartment, she packed her belongings and called Denver police. While waiting for officers to arrive, Braden texted her with the message, “just kill me.” Based on that text and Braden’s extreme intoxication, officers transported Braden to a medical detox center. In early April 2021, Braden signed an extreme risk protection order, relinquishing his firearms and his concealed carry permit for 364 days.
Later, on April 29, 2021, Braden was arrested after he harassed female patrons at a Denver bar and physically assaulted other patrons. He punched one person in the face and gouged another person’s eye. When a security guard demanded that Braden leave the bar, Braden struck him in the throat and fled. Braden later returned to the bar wearing a different shirt, and officers were able to apprehend him. Following a jury trial, Braden was convicted of assault, disturbing the peace, and interference with a police officer. He was sentenced to five days in jail with credit for two days served and a one-year period of probation.
Through this conduct, Braden violated Colo. RPC 8.4(b) (it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects) and Colo. RPC 8.4(h) (it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in any conduct that directly, intentionally, and wrongfully harms others and that adversely reflects on the lawyer’s fitness to practice law).