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Former 4th District Judge Ray Harding Jr. - who resigned from the bench last year while being prosecuted for possession of heroin and cocaine - has now lost his license to practice law.

Harding, 50, was disbarred by the Utah Supreme Court, according to an opinion made public Tuesday, for having brought disrepute upon the legal profession and undermined public confidence in the judiciary.

The high court said Harding's misdemeanor drug possession convictions alone would not warrant loss of his license to practice. Harsh punishment - a five-year disbarment - was necessary and appropriate because of Harding's actions after he was arrested at his Highland home in July 2002, the justices said.

Harding continued to publicly maintain his innocence and malign his accusers - primarily his now-ex-wife, Anne Harding - until admitting guilt and pleading to reduced drug charges in March 2003, the justices said.

Meanwhile, Harding had refused to resign from the bench and continued drawing his $103,000 paycheck until just a week before accepting a plea bargain. And the resignation came, noted the high court, in the face of the dual threats of impeachment by legislators and removal by the Utah Supreme Court.

Attorney Greg Skordas, who represented Harding in the bar dispute, expressed dismay at the ruling.

"I was really sad, because he's come so far," Skordas said. "This guy, from an addiction standpoint, is the poster boy for reform."

Skordas said Harding had completed treatment at the Betty Ford Clinic in California, has remained "clean" and now attends several 12-step meetings a week. He also mentors other lawyers and judges with substance abuse problems.

"He is a crusader for people with addictions," Skordas said. The Supreme Court justices "could have given him some credit for that. But they couldn't have been any more harsh."

At a daylong hearing before the Office of Professional Conduct's screening panel, Skordas argued that while Harding's conduct was offensive, it never affected his ability to sit as a judge nor would it affect his ability to practice law.

"He was a great judge," Skordas said Tuesday, noting that none of Harding's decisions was reversed because of the drug-abuse allegations.

The high court, however, said democracy cannot function and flourish unless there is respect for the rule of law.

"In the American system of justice, the fairness, impartiality, stability and wisdom of our legal system depend in major part on the integrity of the men and women serving as judges," according to the unanimous opinion penned by Justice Michael Wilkins.

"We expect those to whom we entrust our lives, fortunes and honor to exemplify those virtues."

Skordas agreed Harding should be held to a higher standard, but claimed the former judge had suffered far more than the average misdemeanant.

"He did hard jail time - in solitary, so he wouldn't get assaulted," Skordas said. "He lost his judgeship and he suffered public humiliation."

But Skordas predicted Harding, who declined to speak to reporters Tuesday, would bounce back, even from this latest blow.

Harding accepted news of the disbarment "better than I did," Skordas said.

Skordas said Harding had been trying to start a mediation business, but added, "I don't think people will be flocking to him now."

Charged criminally with two third-degree felony counts of drug possession, Harding pleaded guilty to two lesser counts of class A misdemeanor attempted drug possession.

In April 2003, 3rd District Judge Timothy Hanson, saying Harding had disgraced himself and the judiciary, sentenced him to 24 months probation, 120 days in jail, $9,250 in fines and 500 hours of community service.