LASC Amends Permanent Disbarment Rules
On May 4, 2022, the Louisiana Supreme Court amended the rules governing the available sanctions for lawyer misconduct. More particularly, the court amended LASC Rule 19, Section 10(A)(1) as follows: …
Lawyer’s Alcohol-Related Criticism of Judge Draws Stayed Suspension
On April 14, 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court suspended a lawyer for six-months, entirely deferred, for publicly criticizing a judge after consuming alcohol at a bar association event: Bahan and …
Judge Disciplined for Sending Ex Parte Facebook Messages to Party in Case Pending Before Him
The Louisiana Supreme Court suspended a Denham Springs judge for four months for engaging in ex parte communications via Facebook Messenger with a party in a case pending before him …
May a Lawyer Investigate Opposing Counsel’s Client on Facebook?
Lawyers know—or should know—that they may not communicate with an adversary’s client about the subject of the representation without the other lawyer’s consent. See La. Rules of Prof’l Conduct, r. …
Lawyer Suspended For Coaching Client Via Messenger Feature During Virtual Trial
An Arizona lawyer has consented to a two-month suspension from the practice of law for utilizing the chat feature of a virtual trial platform to coach his client during her …
Louisiana Supreme Court Permits Baton Rouge Judge to Remain On Bench Despite Age-Limit Dispute
On January 28, 2022, the Louisiana Supreme Court held in a 4-3 split decision that a city judge could remain in office despite exceeding the age limit set by the …
Louisiana Supreme Court Publicly Disciplines Louisiana Lawyers for Failing to Pre-File Advertisements with the LSBA
Louisiana lawyers who advertise have long faced scrutiny from the Louisiana legislature, the Louisiana Supreme Court, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, and the Louisiana State Bar Association. But this year …
Massachusetts Publicly Reprimands Lawyer for Failing to Supervise Paralegal Who Stole Money
On November 22, 2021, the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers of the Supreme Judicial Court publicly reprimanded lawyer Mark C. Watson for failing to adequately supervise a paralegal, for record …
Discipline Imposed for Reply to Client’s On-Line Review
On April 8, 2021, the Tennessee Supreme Court Board of Professional Responsibility censured Jeffery Dennis Johnson for disclosing confidential client information in a response to a negative on-line review and …
Florida Bar Seeks to Discipline “Pit Bull” Lawyer
The Florida Bar initiated disciplinary proceedings against Florida lawyer Robert Laurence Pelletier for describing himself as a “pit bull” lawyer and using an online image of a pit bull in …