Ethics

8463 ABA Journal Ethics articles.

Okla. Judge Sues Accusers in Indecent Exposure Case

An Oklahoma judge who has been charged with indecent exposure in a criminal case has filed a civil defamation action against his accusers, one of whom reportedly is his ex-girlfriend. Judge Jesse Harris, who sits in Tulsa County District Court, contends in a suit filed yesterday in the same court…

Jun 26, 2008 9:09 PM CDT

Judge Raps Abbott Attorney in Rare ‘Inequitable Conduct’ Sanction

A federal judge has held that an Abbott Laboratories patent is unenforceable because of the “inequitable conduct” of an in-house lawyer. Attorney Lawrence Pope withheld important information when applying for the so-called ‘551 patent, the judge found, concerning a position Abbott had previously taken on the so-called ‘381 patent, reports…

Jun 26, 2008 8:38 PM CDT

Attorney for Sect Teen Refuses to Testify in Texas Grand Jury Hearing

A Texas grand jury apparently investigating alleged sexual abuse of girls by a polygamous religious sect reportedly tried to call an attorney for one 16-year-old, Natalie Malonis, to testify yesterday. But Malonis refused, citing attorney-client privilege, which led to an interruption in the San Angelo grand jury hearing as Judge…

Jun 26, 2008 6:06 PM CDT

Arrested Iowa Attorney Jailed in Bank Fraud Case

An Iowa attorney and judge who is facing federal charges in an alleged bank fraud scheme has been jailed pending his trial. Kyle David Williamson, 41, offered to admit himself to a psychiatric hospital, but Magistrate Judge Thomas Shields of the Southern District of Iowa said he wasn’t satisfied that…

Jun 26, 2008 5:13 PM CDT

Appeals Court: Lawyer Sanctions Shouldn’t Induce Fear of ‘Uncharismatic’ Clients

An appeals court in Washington state has overturned sanctions that had been imposed against a lawyer on the ground he helped his client file an ungrounded lawsuit against a physician. Ruling in a sexual abuse lawsuit filed by a patient, the appeals court said a lawyer who conducts a reasonable…

Jun 25, 2008 1:48 PM CDT

Ex-Prosecutor: DOJ Destroyed My Career

Ryan Rainey admittedly broke a rule when he was a star federal prosecutor, and paid a high price for doing so. In 2005, he resigned, later pleading guilty to criminal charges. They related to failing to inform his bosses at the Department of Justice about applying for work as a…

Jun 24, 2008 6:37 PM CDT

FAMU Law School Finds No Evidence Fen-Phen Lawyer’s Gift Was Tainted

The law school at Florida A&M University says there is “no objective evidence” that a fen-phen lawyer’s $1 million gift to the school in 2002 came from tainted money. The statement by FAMU officials said they are still deciding how to use the money donated by lawyer Shirley Cunningham, reports…

Jun 24, 2008 4:48 PM CDT

Judge Who Had Sensitivity Training Is Accused Again of Rudeness

A Seattle-area judge has been accused of routinely interrupting litigants and lawyers and addressing them in a manner that is “angry, disdainful, condescending and/or demeaning.” The state Commission on Judicial Conduct claims in a statement of charges (PDF) that Judge Judith Eiler treated lawyers and self-represented litigants in a way…

Jun 24, 2008 4:07 PM CDT

N.J. Judge Attributes Obscenities to Stressful Events

A New Jersey judge told a disciplinary panel last week that his use of obscenities on the bench was the result of several stressful events. Judge F. Michael Giles of Essex County is accused of directing profanities at lawyers on two occasions, the New Jersey Law Journal reports. He is…

Jun 24, 2008 3:26 PM CDT

Report Raps Justice Department for Political Hires in Honors Program

Updated: A report released today concludes that political appointees in the Justice Department focused on hiring conservative lawyers and eschewed liberals in an honors program for law graduates. The report said a screening committee rejected applicants affiliated with Democratic or liberal causes at a much higher rate than those with…

Jun 24, 2008 1:35 PM CDT

Lawyer Chastised for ‘Heartless Attack’ on Counsel for Pin Honoring Slain Son

A Georgia judge has condemned a lawyer for remarks he made at a deposition about a pin worn by opposing counsel honoring his son killed in Iraq. Judge David Sweat said in a June 11 order (PDF posted by the Fulton County Daily Report) that the remarks by Athens lawyer…

Jun 24, 2008 12:16 PM CDT

Prosecutor Tells Newspaper He Tried to Help Defense Win Doubtful Case

A New York prosecutor who says he was directed to defend a murder prosecution despite his reservations admits that he did his best to help the defense win the case. Daniel Bibb, who worked under District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, told the New York Times he discussed strategy with defense lawyers…

Jun 23, 2008 2:06 PM CDT

Sect Leader’s Daughter Tells Attorney Ad Litem to Step Aside

The daughter of polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs has told her attorney ad litem in an e-mail to step aside. She sent a copy of the missive to the Salt Lake Tribune. The teen, 16-year-old Teresa Jeffs, told the newspaper in an interview that Texas lawyer Natalie Malonis is restricting…

Jun 23, 2008 12:16 PM CDT

Misconduct Findings Against Federal Judge Forwarded to House

The U.S. Judicial Conference has forwarded to the House of Representatives its misconduct findings against U.S. District Judge Thomas Porteous. The impeachment recommendation said the group had found substantial evidence that Porteous committed perjury and failed to disclose gifts he accepted from lawyers appearing before him, the New Orleans Times-Picayune…

Jun 20, 2008 1:18 PM CDT

Lawyer Loses Arbitration and Job Over Law Firm Accounting Dispute

A California lawyer who claimed his law firm was improperly accounting for partnership draws has lost an arbitration and his job. An arbitration judgment entered in Los Angeles superior court on June 10 upheld the ouster of lawyer Richard Blasco and ordered him to pay $623,000 in fees and court…

Jun 20, 2008 12:32 PM CDT

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Ethics

Okla. Judge Sues Accusers in Indecent Exposure Case

Judge Raps Abbott Attorney in Rare ‘Inequitable Conduct’ Sanction

Attorney for Sect Teen Refuses to Testify in Texas Grand Jury Hearing

Arrested Iowa Attorney Jailed in Bank Fraud Case

Appeals Court: Lawyer Sanctions Shouldn’t Induce Fear of ‘Uncharismatic’ Clients

Ex-Prosecutor: DOJ Destroyed My Career

FAMU Law School Finds No Evidence Fen-Phen Lawyer’s Gift Was Tainted

Judge Who Had Sensitivity Training Is Accused Again of Rudeness

N.J. Judge Attributes Obscenities to Stressful Events

Report Raps Justice Department for Political Hires in Honors Program

Lawyer Chastised for ‘Heartless Attack’ on Counsel for Pin Honoring Slain Son

Prosecutor Tells Newspaper He Tried to Help Defense Win Doubtful Case

Sect Leader’s Daughter Tells Attorney Ad Litem to Step Aside

Misconduct Findings Against Federal Judge Forwarded to House

Lawyer Loses Arbitration and Job Over Law Firm Accounting Dispute

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