Model Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement
Abatement: A diminution of conditions in an order of discipline, readmission, or reinstatement pursuant to Rule 26.
Advisory Opinion: The interpretation of law as applied to an assumed set of facts, whether written or oral.
Central Intake Office: The office established by Rule 1 that is responsible for the receipt, coordination, processing and disposition of information and complaints regarding the conduct of lawyers.
Expunction or Expungement: Process by which records or other evidence of the existence of complaints terminated by dismissals are destroyed after a period of time, pursuant to Rule 4(B)(12).
Fraud: Conduct having a purpose to deceive but not merely negligent misrepresentation.
Interim: Temporary.
Lesser Misconduct: Conduct that does not warrant a sanction restricting the respondent's right to practice law, as determined pursuant to Rule 9(B).
Official of the State Bar: Any person who is elected or appointed to any governing office or board of the state bar, or employed by the state bar.
Respondent: A lawyer who is subject to a complaint.
Serious Crime: Any felony or any lesser crime that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects or any crime a necessary element of which, as determined by the statutory or common law definition of the crime, involves interference with the administration of justice, false swearing, misrepresentation, fraud, deceit, bribery, extortion, misappropriation, theft, or an attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation of another to commit a serious crime.
Substantial: When used in reference to degree or extent, it denotes a material matter of clear and weighty importance.
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