On September 6, 2018, an appellate court covering Albany, New York declared that Sara O'Connor, Esq, age 39, was automatically disbarred from the practice of law—retroactive, to the date she pled guilty to a Class E felony. In March, 2017, Ms. O'Connor drove her 6 year old son to a McDonald's fast food in Guilderland, New York and an employee called the police to report that she seemed drunk. After leaving McDonald's, the police found Ms. O'Connor driving erratically with her 6 year old son in the car.

Ms. O'Connor pleaded guilty to violating Leandra's Law in a deal to avoid jail time. Her penalty includes five years probation and the loss of her law license. The Appellate Division, Third Department noted that pursuant to Judiciary Law Section 90, an attorney convicted of a felony “shall cease to be an attorney...immediately upon such conviction.” In The Matter of Sara O'Connor,