Topeka ? A Lawrence attorney was placed on three years of disciplinary probation Friday for making derogatory comments to a prosecutor during a DUI trial in 2013, then making false statements during his disciplinary proceeding.

The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday said that James E. Rumsey had engaged in undignified or discourteous conduct, as well as conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation by knowingly making a false statement in connection with a disciplinary matter.

The case stemmed from a 2013 case in which he represented a Lawrence man accused of driving under the influence. According to the Supreme Court’s account, at the outset of the trial Rumsey reportedly called Assistant Douglas County District Attorney Kathleen Britton a derogatory name.

Judge Michael Malone directed Rumsey to self-report the incident to the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator, which Rumsey did.

During the investigation, the court noted, Rumsey submitted an affidavit from the DUI defendant stating that he felt he was satisfied with his representation at the trial. Rumsey later had his secretary notarize the affidavit, outside his client’s presence, then submitted it to the disciplinary administrator as a sworn statement signed in the presence of a notary.

The disciplinary initially recommended Rumsey be suspended for two years, while Rumsey asked that he only be censured. But the court found those suggestions too lenient in light of Rumsey’s six previous disciplinary cases.

Instead, the court ordered a three-year suspension of his license, but stayed that order while placing Rumsey on three years probation.