A Santa Fe attorney facing possible disbarment for misconduct after seeking an investigation of a private environmental school may continue to practice law.

On Wednesday, the New Mexico Supreme Court unanimously decided to suspend Claude Convisser from practicing law for one year, but deferred the suspension.

The justices said Convisser can continue to practice law but must follow the rules of professional conduct and respond to complaints made against him. He also was ordered to pay about $5,000 in court costs in 90 days. The court will publish an opinion on this issue.

Convisser said after the hearing that he's always abided by the rules of professional conduct, but that he still believes "there should be an investigation of wrongdoing and possible criminal misconduct that took place involving the estate of Frances Harwood and the subsequent takeover of Ecoversity by (director Jeff "R.P.") Harbour and his allies."

Convisser, a former Ecoversity student, had been accused of misrepresenting himself and engaging in the unauthorized practice of law in his effort to get a grand jury to investigate Harbour last year. A judge recently threw out Convisser's petition.

A brief issued by Joel Widman, deputy disciplinary counsel for the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court, said a hearing committee and a hearing panel recommended suspending Convisser and requiring a mental health examination before reinstating him. But the Supreme Court ruled that a mental health examination was unwarranted.

Harbour, who did not attend the hearing, said later "the focus of the discipline should have been his behavior rather than his mental state and that's exactly how the Supreme Court ruled." He said the court's decision "upheld our claim that (Convisser) was dishonest."

Harbour said he wants to leave this issue behind and focus on Ecoversity's projects. The school on Agua Fría Street offers programs and classes on sustainability.

Contact Veronica Cruz at 986-3042 or vcruz@sfnewmexican.com.