TALLAHASSEE—Though the Florida Bar wanted to suspend an Orlando lawyer for 90 days after he fractured his wife's nose and threatened to kill her in 2021, the state Supreme Court decided that punishment wasn't severe enough.
Instead, the Court decided in a Thursday morning opinion, attorney Ryan Mitchell will be suspended for two years.
That's one year shy of the maximum suspension sentence, noted Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz.
"Mitchell knowingly engaged in criminal conduct when he violently assaulted his wife," the opinion reads. "[His] choice to commit a violent criminal act—especially one directed against his spouse—has revealed a significant breach of ethical conduct that cannot be sufficiently addressed through a public reprimand or tolerated in the legal profession."
On the night of September 22, 2021, after Mitchell and his wife had been experiencing "marital difficulties," she woke him in the middle of the night, court documents reveal. Mitchell, furious, allegedly began to punch her repeatedly over the head and in the face, chasing her into the living room where she attempted to shield herself with a pillow.
Yanking it out of the way, Mitchell said, "I am going to kill you," and hit her several more times. He also threw her cell phone into the couple's pool before driving off, leaving her with a fractured nose, bruised eye, no phone, and their three minor children, who were home during the assault.
In January 2023, Mitchell pled no contest to two misdemeanor charges, battery and criminal mischief.
He was sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation, including submitting to a mental health evaluation, a drug and alcohol evaluation, attending and completing the Batterer’s Intervention Program, having no contact with his wife, and paying her $2,224.23 in restitution.
An initial complaint asked that Mitchell simply receive a public reprimand, though the Florida Bar asked that he be suspended for 90 days. The state Supreme Court decided that two years was appropriate.
"Such conduct, along with his no contest plea to two criminal misdemeanors, raises serious doubts about Mitchell’s willingness to abide by the law and reflects adversely on his continued fitness to practice," the opinion reads. They acknowledged that mitigating factors including his remorse, cooperation, and private therapy, contributed to their decision not to suspend him for three years.
All Justices agreed with the decision, though Justice Charles Canady concurred—taking issue with the decision not to suspend Mitchell for the full three years.
