The Hawaii Supreme Court issued an order Tuesday disbarring Michael R. Salling from the practice of law.

The high court said Salling, 65, violated Hawaii Rules of Professional Conduct by "dishonestly" trying to gain fee-simple title to his client’s apartment against the woman’s wishes.

At the time, the apartment was worth about $400,000, according to the court.

The court said Salling used a power of attorney he prepared for his client to execute shortly before her death; misrepresented the authenticity of an invalid deed before a notary public; recorded the invalid deed; and misrepresented that the apartment had been given to him as a gift to avoid paying taxes.

In its unanimous ruling, the high court said Salling had a "dishonest motive" in trying to personally and financially benefit himself.

An aggravating factor, the court said, is Salling "does not recognize the wrongful nature of his conduct or show remorse and evinces no intention to pay restitution."

The court also pointed out Salling was suspended from the practice of law for six months in 1993.

In an email statement, Salling said that other than his public service work without pay, he has not actively practiced law since the 1990s.

He said after the woman’s "tragic and unexpected" death in 2006, her family settled a lawsuit over the Honolulu Tower condominium where he and the woman had lived together.

He said the family "retaliated by filing an unmerited complaint" with the Supreme Court’s disciplinary counsel.

The counsel’s office investigates unethical complaints against lawyers.

Salling said the Disciplinary Board refused to appoint a lawyer to represent him in the disciplinary proceedings, despite his repeated requests and his "impoverishment and mental illness."

The board recommended disbarment.

Salling is the former husband of Lehua Fernandes Salling, a former state senator from Kauai.

The court’s disbarment order takes effect in 30 days.