Lawyer Discipline

545 ABA Journal Lawyer Discipline articles.

Judging the Judges

While legal ethics experts say state judicial oversight tends to be more aggressive than in the federal system, there’s still a wide difference in execution between jurisdictions. In addition, critics say some states need to make their judicial oversight processes and judicial disclosure reports more transparent.

Jun 1, 2024 4:00 AM CDT

DC law licensing board recommends Rudy Giuliani be disbarred

The District of Columbia board that oversees attorney discipline recommended Friday that Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor and personal attorney to former president Donald Trump, not be allowed to practice law in the nation’s capital.

May 31, 2024 3:55 PM CDT

Lawyer disbarred following alleged cocaine-licking assault on employee at nightclub he owned

A New York lawyer convicted in 2008 for allegedly licking cocaine off a waitress at the nightclub that he owned was disbarred last week partly for his conduct in a civil lawsuit that followed.

May 24, 2024 9:35 AM CDT

Ex-BigLaw attorney once ‘consumed with remorse’ over $10M client theft sentenced in new scheme

A disbarred New York lawyer who served time for stealing $10.7 million from clients is facing more prison time after pleading guilty in a scheme to defraud the government out of $1.4 million in COVID-19 relief funds.

May 23, 2024 11:06 AM CDT

9 legal malpractice trends in 2024

Legal malpractice is costing law firms big bucks, and it’s expected to fetch even more soon. Multimillion-dollar payouts increased year over year, according a 2023 report comparing 2022 numbers with the prior year report by Ames & Gough, a business insurance and risk management consultancy.

May 22, 2024 1:41 PM CDT

California bar plans to expunge attorney discipline records under certain conditions

The State Bar of California's board of trustees approved a plan last week to expunge discipline records automatically for attorneys who have not been disbarred.

May 20, 2024 9:21 AM CDT

Judge ordered removed for ‘troubling inability to conform his behavior’ to judicial standards

A California judge who hoped to find the “mole” cooperating with ethics investigators sought a review of employee emails and the hiring of outside counsel to complete the investigation, according to a May 2 decision ordering his removal from office.

May 8, 2024 10:10 AM CDT

Former top prosecutor in St. Louis ‘remains elusive,’ says state auditor who can’t find her

The former top prosecutor for St. Louis “remains elusive,” and “her whereabouts are currently unknown,” according to a May 6 press release by the Missouri state auditor.

May 7, 2024 2:23 PM CDT

Lawyer suspended after he’s accused of plying teens with alcohol and touching one of them sexually

The Ohio Supreme Court has suspended a lawyer who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault after being accused of touching his stepdaughter’s 18-year-old friend in a sexual manner during a sleepover in which she became sick from drinking the alcohol that he supplied.

Apr 25, 2024 3:21 PM CDT

Lawyer disbarred for destroying his computer, altering metadata before ethics hearing

A New Hampshire lawyer has been disbarred based on allegations that he destroyed his computer before an ethics hearing and altered metadata to make it appear that he had provided conflict letters to a client when borrowing $275,000 from her.

Apr 25, 2024 10:01 AM CDT

Lawyer reprimanded after mistakenly emailing opposing counsel with plan to avoid judge’s call

Updated: A Massachusetts lawyer who mistakenly copied the opposing counsel on an email has been reprimanded for its message to a bankruptcy attorney.

Apr 18, 2024 11:51 AM CDT

Lawyer’s actions in discipline matter lead to worse penalty

Knowing when to fight a charge, or accept it when the evidence isn’t great and you’re offered a decent outcome, is a significant part of practicing law. Mike Mbanza, an Iowa lawyer, may have learned that the hard way.

Apr 1, 2024 1:50 AM CDT

Lawyer who stole more than $1M from his law firm gets disbarred

A lawyer accused of using his law firm as “a personal gold mine” has been disbarred after he admitted stealing more than $1 million from the entity.

Mar 28, 2024 12:16 PM CDT

Judge recommends conservative lawyer John Eastman be disbarred in California

A California judge recommended that conservative attorney John Eastman be disbarred in the state over his role in developing a legal strategy to help President Donald Trump stay in power after his 2020 election loss.

Mar 28, 2024 9:40 AM CDT

Is ex-DOJ official facing ethics trial for ‘thought crime’? His election-fraud letter was based on sincerely held belief, lawyer says

A former Department of Justice official accused of drafting a letter with false allegations of election fraud that he hoped to send to Georgia officials did not violate ethics rules, his lawyer said at a disciplinary hearing Tuesday.

Mar 27, 2024 10:01 AM CDT

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