Lawyer Suspended for Six Months for Not Paying Bills
Can a lawyer’s failure to pay business-related debts be sanctionable in the lawyer disciplinary system? Yes, according to a March 14, 2018, opinion by the Supreme Court of South Carolina. See In …
Judge Sanctioned for Refusing to Perform Same-Sex Marriage Ceremonies
The Supreme Court of Oregon has sanctioned a judge who “inappropriately screened . . . wedding applicants to ensure that they were not same-sex applicants, because [respondent] refused to marry same-sex …
Is it Unethical to Use “.25” as a Minimum Billing Increment for Lawyer Time?
No, according to a March 27, 2018, opinion from the Wyoming Supreme Court. See Manigault v. Daly & Sorenson, LLC, No. S-17-0163 (Mar. 27, 2018). In that case, a client accused her …
Debt Counseling Business Found to Engage in Unauthorized Practice of Law
The Supreme Court of Ohio issued a permanent injunction banning a Pennsylvania corporation, Century Negotiations, Inc., from engaging in what the court deemed “the unauthorized practice of law.” Ohio State …
The Top Ten Louisiana Legal Ethics Developments in 2017
If a Louisiana lawyer were were to read just one post on this blog all year, this should be it. Here are the top ten developments in Louisiana legal ethics …
Lawyer Suspended for Dropping F-Bomb on Magistrate
An “activist” lawyer purporting to represent an “occupy movement” was suspended for two years, all deferred, for exclaiming to a magistrate, “what the fu** is going on around here.” See N.C. State …
Lawyers, Check Your Spam Emails
Do you know what’s in your spam inbox? You should. A cautionary tale from Florida makes it clear that a “defective email system” is no excuse for missing important communications. See Emerald …
When Paying a Fact Witness is Inappropriate
A recent suspension imposed by the Nevada Supreme Court sends a cautionary message to lawyers who might offer to pay money to fact witnesses. The lawyer, Jonathan Callister, sent a …
Prosecutor’s Ethical Duty to Disclose Exculpatory Information is Coextensive With Constitutional Duty
On October 18, 2017, the Louisiana Supreme Court resolved an unsettled question as to whether a prosecutor’s “ethical” duty to disclose exculpatory evidence under Louisiana Rule of Professional Conduct 3.8(d) …
“Ghetto” Remark by Lawyer Draws Public Reprimand
Colorado lawyer Robert Brent Wareham admitted to violating the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct by threatening his client’s son with foster care unless the boy “started behaving.” Wareham elaborated: “You …