Model Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement
MODEL RULES FOR LAWYER DISCIPLINARY ENFORCEMENT
About the Model Rules
The Model Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement were adopted by the American Bar Association House of Delegates on August 8, 1989 and amended on August 11, 1993, August 5, 1996, February 8, 1999, and August 12, 2002.
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Table of Contents
Nothing contained in this book is to be considered as the rendering of legal advice for specific cases, and readers are responsible for obtaining such advice from their own legal counsel.
PREAMBLE: AUTHORITY OF THE COURT
I. STRUCTURE AND SCOPE
- Rule 1 COMPREHENSIVE LAWYER REGULATORY SYSTEM
- A. Component Agencies
- B. Central Intake Office
- C. Disciplinary Districts
- Rule 2 THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD OF THE SUPREME COURT OF [STATE NAME]
- A. Agency
- B. Appointment
- C. Election of Officers
- D. Quorum
- E. Compensation and Expenses
- F. Abstention and Disqualification of Board Members
- G. Powers and Duties
- Rule 3 HEARING COMMITTEES
- A. Appointment
- B. Terms of Office
- C. Quorum
- D. Powers and Duties
- E. Powers and Duties of Hearing Committee Chair
- F. Abstention and Disqualification of Hearing Committee Members
- Rule 4 DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL
- A. Appointment
- B. Powers and Duties
- C. Advisory Opinions Prohibited
- D. Ex Parte Communication with Disciplinary Counsel
- E. Disqualification
- Rule 5 EXPENSES
- Rule 6 JURISDICTION
- A. Lawyers Admitted to Practice
- B. Former Judges
- C. Incumbent Judges
- D. Powers Not Assumed
- Rule 7 ROSTER OF LAWYERS
- Rule 8 PERIODIC ASSESSMENT OF LAWYERS
- A. Requirement
- B. Exemption of Judges
- C. Suspension for Nonpayment
- D. Reinstatement after Payment
- E. Registration Statement
- F. Receipt Demonstrating Filing of Registration Statement
- G. Suspension for Failure to File Registration Statements
- H. Application for Transfer to Inactive Status
- I. Reinstatement from Inactive Status
- Rule 9 GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINE/LESSER MISCONDUCT
- A. Grounds for Discipline
- B. Lesser Misconduct
- Rule 10 SANCTIONS
- A. Types of Sanctions
- B. Conditions
- C. Factors to be Considered in Imposing Sanctions
- D. Public Nature of Sanctions
II. PROCEDURE FOR DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
- Rule 11 GENERALLY
- A. Evaluation
- B. Investigation
- C. Admonition or Probation Imposition
- D. Formal Charges
- E. Review by Board
- F. Review by the Court
- G. Alternatives to Discipline Program
- Rule 12 IMMUNITY
- A. From Civil Suits
- B. From Criminal Prosecution
- Rule 13 SERVICE
- A. Service of Petition
- B. Service of Other Papers
- Rule 14 SUBPOENA POWER
- A. Oaths
- B. Investigatory Subpoenas
- C. Subpoenas for Deposition or Hearing
- D. Enforcement of Subpoenas
- E. Quashing Subpoena
- F. Witnesses and Fees
- G. Subpoena Pursuant to Law of Another Jurisdiction
- Rule 15 DISCOVERY
- A. Scope
- B. Resolution of Disputes
- C. Civil Rules Not Applicable
- Rule 16 ACCESS TO DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION
- A. Availability of Information
- B. Confidentiality
- C. Public Proceedings
- D. Proceedings Alleging Disability
- E. Protective Orders
- F. Request for Nonpublic Information
- G. Notice to Lawyer
- H. Release Without Notice
- I. Notice to National Lawyer Regulatory Data Bank
- J. Duty of Officials and Employees of the Agency
- Rule 17 DISSEMINATION OF DISCIPLINARY INFORMATION
- A. Notice to Disciplinary Agencies
- B. Public Notice of Discipline Imposed
- C. Notice to the Courts
- Rule 18 ADDITIONAL RULES OF PROCEDURE
- A. Nature of Proceedings
- B. Rules Governed by Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence
- C. Standard of Proof
- D. Burden of Proof
- E. Prehearing Conference
- F. Hearings Recorded
- G. Related Pending Litigation
- H. Hearings on Lesser Misconduct
- I. Delay Caused by Complainant
- J. Effect of Time Limitations
- K. Complaints Against Disciplinary Agency Members
- Rule 19 LAWYERS FOUND GUILTY OF A CRIME
- A. Transmittal of Certificate of Conviction by Clerk of Trial Court
- B. Determination of "Serious Crime"
- C. Definition of "Serious Crime"
- D. Immediate Interim Suspension
- E. Conviction as Conclusive Evidence
- F. Automatic Reinstatement from Interim Suspension upon Reversal of Conviction
- G. Notice to Clients and Others on Interim Suspension
- Rule 20 INTERIM SUSPENSION FOR THREAT OF HARM
- A. Transmittal of Evidence
- B. Immediate Interim Suspension
- C. Notice to Clients
- D. Motion for Dissolution of Interim Suspension
- Rule 21 DISCIPLINE BY CONSENT
- A. Board Approval of Tendered Admission
- B. Review of Discipline by Consent
- C. Discontinuance of Jurisdiction
- D. Affidavit of Consent
- E. Order of Discipline
- Rule 22 RECIPROCAL DISCIPLINE AND RECIPROCAL DISABILITY INACTIVE STATUS
- A. Disciplinary Counsel Duty to Obtain Order of Discipline or Disability Inactive Status from Other Jurisdiction
- B. Notice Served Upon Respondent
- C. Effect of Stay in Other Jurisdiction
- D. Discipline to be Imposed
- E. Conclusiveness of Adjudication in Other Jurisdictions
- Rule 22 AMENDMENTS ADOPTED BY THE ABA HOUSE OF DELEGATES IN AUGUST 2002
- Rule 23 PROCEEDINGS IN WHICH LAWYER IS DECLARED TO BE INCOMPETENT OR ALLEGED TO BE INCAPACITATED
- A. Involuntary Commitment or Adjudication of Incompetency
- B. Inability to Properly Defend
- C. Proceedings to Determine Incapacity
- D. Public Notice of Transfer to Disability Inactive Status
- E. Reinstatement from Disability Inactive Status
- Rule 24 REINSTATEMENT FOLLOWING A SUSPENSION OF SIX MONTHS OR LESS
- Rule 25 REINSTATEMENT AFTER SUSPENSION FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS AND READMISSION
- A. Generally
- B. Petition
- C. Service of Petition
- D. Publication of Notice of Petition
- E. Criteria for Reinstatement and Readmission
- F. Review of Petition
- G. Hearing; Report
- H. Decision as to Reinstatement or Readmission
- I. Conditions of Reinstatement or Readmission
- J. Reciprocal Reinstatement or Readmission
- [Rule 26 ABATEMENT OR MODIFICATION OF CONDITIONS OF DISCIPLINE, REINSTATEMENT, OR READMISSION]
- Rule 27 NOTICE TO CLIENTS, ADVERSE PARTIES, AND OTHER COUNSEL
- A. Recipients of Notice; Contents
- B. Special Notice
- C. Duty to Maintain Records
- D. Return of Client Property
- E. Effective Date of Order; Refund of Fees
- F. Withdrawal from Representation
- G. New Representation Prohibited
- H. Affidavit Filed with Court
- Rule 28 APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL TO PROTECT CLIENTS' INTERESTS WHEN RESPONDENT IS TRANSFERRED TO DISABILITY INACTIVE STATUS, SUSPENDED, DISBARRED, DISAPPEARS, OR DIES
- A. Inventory of Lawyer Files
- B. Protection for Records Subject to Inventory
- Rule 29 MAINTENANCE OF TRUST FUNDS IN APPROVED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS; OVERDRAFT NOTIFICATION
- A. Clearly Identified Trust Accounts in Approved Financial Institutions Required
- B. Overdraft Notification Agreement Required C. Overdraft Reports
- D. Timing of Reports
- E. Consent By Lawyers
- F. Costs
- G. Definitions
- Rule 30 VERIFICATION OF BANK ACCOUNTS
- A. Generally
- B. Confidentiality
- Rule 31 APPEAL BY COMPLAINANT
- A. From Disposition by Central Intake Office
- B. From Disposition by Disciplinary Agency
- Rule 32 STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
- Rule 33 FAILURE TO ANSWER/FAILURE TO APPEAR
- A. Failure to Answer
- B. Failure to Appear
- Rule 34 COUNSEL FOR INDIGENT RESPONDENT
