James D. “Doug†Barding no longer is a lawyer.
The Missouri Supreme Court on Friday issued an order disbarring Barding from practicing law after finding him guilty of professional misconduct.
The order notes Barding, 63, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for Western Missouri to violating federal law.
Last Aug. 4, he pleaded guilty to — in the words of a U.S. Attorney’s news release — “enlisting a U.S. citizen to marry co-defendant Darya Chernova†so she could remain in the United States and seek citizenship.
Chernova came to the U.S. from the Ukraine on a student visa — for a while studying at Lincoln University and playing tennis for the Blue Tigers.
She also became Barding’s mistress, and the couple had two children together.
Barding also had been involved in a second sham marriage involving a Jefferson City woman and another Ukranian national.
U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough ordered probation for the other three defendants, but told Barding during his Jan. 25 sentencing hearing: “I’m not going to give you probation. If members of our profession don’t follow the law … we have to clean out our own house.â€
Barding was sentenced to one month in federal prison.
The Missouri Supreme Court order, signed by Chief Justice Patricia Breckenridge, noted Barding’s federal conviction is final, giving the state court its authority to order “his right and license to practice law in the State of Missouri is canceled and that his name is stricken from the roll of attorneys in this State.â€
Barding had practiced criminal, family, civil and juvenile law in Jefferson City since January 1998.