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“This court has inherent authority as well as statutory authority to discipline attorneys.” Wehringer’s Case, 130 N.H. 707, 718 (1988).

The Rules of Professional Conduct ensure that “[t]he practice of law is not simply an occupation; it is a profession,” Daigle v. City of Portsmouth, 137 N.H. 572, 576, 630 A.2d 776, 778 (1993), whose members seek “to avoid even the appearance of impropriety and, thus, striven to live by a higher standard of conduct than a layperson,” Wehringer’s Case, 130 N.H. 707, 719, 547 A.2d 252, 259 (1988) (quotations omitted).

Although we defer to the referee’s factual findings if supported by the record, see Wehringer’s Case, 130 N.H. 707, 716, 547 A.2d 252, 257 (1988), we retain the ultimate authority to determine whether, on the facts found, a violation of the rules governing attorney conduct has occurred and, if so, the appropriate sanction.

*139 In professional conduct matters, although we defer to the referee’s factual findings if supported by the record, see Wehringer’s Case, 130 N.H. 707, 716, 547 A.2d 252, 257 (1988), we retain the ultimate authority to determine whether, on the facts found, a violation of the rules governing attorney conduct has occurred and, if so, the appropriate sanction.

It is questionable, therefore, whether the respondent has accepted his wrongdoing.

First, whether the record supports the findings and rulings of the referee, and second, the appropriate sanction to impose against the respondent.

Although the respondent presented conflicting testimony at the hearing, “[credibility as well as weight given to testimony [at a disbarment proceeding] is a question of fact for the [trial] court and if the findings could reasonably be made on all evidence they must stand.” Wehringer’s Case, 130 N.H. 707, 716-17, 547 A.2d 252, 257 (1988) (quotation omitted).- We have also considered the previous petitions seeking public censure and a one-year suspension.

RSA 311:8 (1995); RSA 490:4 (1983); Wehringer’s Case, 130 N.H. 707, 718, 547 A.2d 252, 259 (1988), cert.

Because of the great interests placed in our hands and confided to our management, the legal profession, and the judiciary in particular, demand “the strictest integrity.” Wehringer’s Case, 130 N.H. 707, 719, 547 A.2d 252, 259 (1988) (quotation omitted), cert.

In determining the appropriate sanction, however, we will consider any mitigating factors that may be present.

“It is not our role to substitute our own findings for the judgment of the referee.” Wehringer’s Case, 130 N.H. 707, 716, 547 A.2d 252, 257 (1988).

Woic *689 cak’s Case, 131 N.H. 735, 740, 561 A.2d 1049, 1051 (1989); Wehringer’s Case, 130 N.H. 707, 719, 547 A.2d 252, 259 (1988), cert.

If we determine that the record supports the referee’s findings and rulings, we then decide on an appropriate sanction to impose against the respondent.

Wehringer’s Case, 130 N.H. 707, 716-17, 547 A.2d 252, 257 (1988); Edes’ Case, supra at 817, 395 A.2d at 499.