Judge again extends deadline for disbarred divorce lawyer to comply

After a disbarred divorce lawyer failed to meet the deadline to explain why she has not complied with court instructions concerning the closing of her law practice and $30,000 of a client’s money, Judge Thomas Moukawsher filed a 24-hour extension. On Friday, he again extended that deadline, until Monday at 3 p.m., according to a court official.

Nickola Cunha, a divorce lawyer, was disbarred in January for making alleged antisemitic claims about a conspiracy to control the state court system. She was ordered to close her practice and not withdraw money from client trust accounts, though she reportedly did anyway.

Cunha, who is being represented by attorney Norm Pattis, did not show up to a hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday before Moukawsher and did not comply with court instructions on Thursday.

The judge had issued a capias order to take effect at 3 p.m. Thursday — meaning she had until 3 p.m. to comply — but on Thursday filed a 24-hour extension, according to court records.

Cunha was ordered to comply by 3 p.m. Friday or be brought into court by marshals, according to court officials.

Her attorney, Pattis, did not return requests for comment on Thursday.

Cunha was disbarred in January for the maximum, allowable period of five years for persisting in asserting antisemitic claims about a judicial conspiracy. Moukawsher ordered Cunha to pay a $1,000 contempt fine for ignoring his

orders. A trustee was appointed to close her law practice and the judicial branch’s chief disciplinary officer is looking into what happened to the $30,000 and other client funds that are supposed to be held in trust.

“If she hasn’t provided the information sought before the hearing, the court will consider other steps to ensure compliance, including possible additional monetary sanctions, incarceration to secure compliance, or both,” Moukawsher wrote in a decision.

Cunha is appealing the disbarment.