The Indiana Supreme Court has suspended a Michigan City-based attorney at least a year after determining he committed misconduct with a client.

Doug Bernacchi was disciplined for "incompetently representing a client, charging an unreasonable fee, improperly using and splitting his fee with a nonlawyer assistant, and attempting to obstruct the disciplinary process," according to the court's finding this week.

The suspension was made without automatic reinstatement.

Calling his conduct during disciplinary hearings “deeply troubling,” the Indiana Supreme Court Monday suspended a Granger attorney and former circuit court judge candidate’s law license for at least a year for committing multiple forms of attorney misconduct.

The court found that Doug Bernacchi incompetently represented a client, charged an unreasonable fee, improperly used and split his fee with a non-lawyer assistant, and attempted to obstruct the attorney disciplinary process. Bernacchi admitted to the allegations in a sworn deposition in August 2016 but had been arguing for a lower penalty.

Bernacchi is suspended effective Nov. 27 without automatic reinstatement, meaning he must petition the Supreme Court for reinstatement after the year has passed. The Indiana Attorney Disciplinary Commission, the state agency that prosecuted the charges, had sought a two-year suspension without automatic reinstatement. Bernacchi had asked for only a reprimand or “short suspension,” according to the court’s ruling.