Category: -Rules of Professional Practice

CJA11-0107. Open and Public Meetings. NEW. This rule describes when Supreme Court committees should hold open meetings and defines allowable reasons for closed meetings. This rule is consistent with the philosophy of the Open and Public Meetings Act.

Supreme Court Order

CJA11-0581. Sanctions. The amendments clarify that if a lawyer is placed on probation the status of probation is public, but the terms of their probation may be private.

CJA11-0582. Factors to be considered in imposing sanctions. The amendments to Rule 11-582: (1) requires the factfinder to consider the presumptive sanctions set forth in the rules, along with any mitigating and aggravating factors; and (2) adds a section to provide guidance when multiple instances of misconduct are found.

CJA11-0583. Imposition of sanctions. The amendment to Rule 11-583 repeals existing rule 11-583 addressing appropriate sanctions and replaces it with four new rules (rules 11-583 through 11-586) that set forth presumptive sanctions based on the nature of the duty violated.

CJA11-0584. Presumptive sanctions for violating duties owed to the public. The new rule provides presumptive sanctions to be imposed upon finding that the lawyer failed to maintain personal integrity, generally, by committing a criminal act. Additionally, this new rule provides presumptive sanctions for violations of Rule 3.8, Special responsibilities of a prosecutor.

CJA11-0585. Presumptive sanctions for violating duties owed to the legal system. The new rule provides presumptive sanctions to be imposed upon finding that the lawyer has engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. This rule relates to deceit, fraud, misrepresentation, improper communication with individuals in the legal system, and abuse of the legal process.

CJA11-0586. Presumptive sanctions for violating duties owed as a member of the legal profession. The new rule provides presumptive sanctions to be imposed upon finding that the lawyer has engaged in conduct involving misleading communications about a lawyer or a lawyer’s services, unreasonable or improper fees, unauthorized practice of law, failure to report professional misconduct, and failure to respond to a lawful request from disciplinary authority.

Supreme Court Order for Rules 11-581 and 11-582

Supreme Court Order for Rule 11-583

Supreme Court Order for Rules 11-584, 11-585, and 11-586

CJA11-0510. Ethics and Discipline Committee composition. Amend. The proposed changes would allow the Ethics and Discipline Committee to recruit up to eight public members and up to 25 lawyer members, with the minimum required numbers of members remaining at four and 21, respectively. The purpose of the amendment is to ensure that the Committee has a sufficient number of individual members to attend screening panel hearings of disciplinary matters. The proposed changes also allow the Committee to have three to four Committee vice chairs, rather than always requiring four vice chairs.

CJA11-0511. Screening panel composition; responsibilities. Amend. The first proposed change reflects the allowed increase in the overall size of the Ethics and Discipline Committee’s four screening panels but retains the requirement that a maximum of one public member and four lawyer members will attend screening panel hearings. The second proposed change provides that screening panel hearings must have five screening panel members, including the panel chair or vice chair and one public member. Consent by the parties to a lower number of screening panel members is no longer allowed. The final proposed change allows the screening panel chair
to vote on panel determinations.

CJA11-0513. Committee clerk. Amend. The proposed change applies the immunity provisions of Rule 11-540 to the Committee clerk. The immunity provisions previously were not expressly applicable to the clerk.

CJA11-0591. Reinstatement following a suspension of more than six months; relicensure. Correction. The proposed change clarifies that, unlike a petition for relicensure, a petition for reinstatement need not be accompanied by a report and recommendation from the Bar’s Character and Fitness Committee.

Supreme Court Order

CJA11-0401.  Standing Committee on Appellate Representation and the Appellate Roster. The amendments to Rule 11-401 simplify committee composition, clarify roster application requirements, increase roster term limits, and address the creation of the Indigent Appellate Defense Division.

Supreme Court Order

CJA11-0101. Creation and Composition of Supreme Court Committees. Amend. The amendments allow for the Supreme Court to appoint vice-chairs to advisory committees. The amendments change the service term from four years to three years for new appointments.

Supreme Court Order