Lawyer Discipline

Lawyer blasted by judge for conduct in Chevron case should get his law license back, ethics referee says

A special referee is recommending that a lawyer regain his law license, despite a federal judge’s finding that the lawyer obtained a fraudulent judgment against Chevron in Ecuador.

Feb 26, 2020 12:23 PM CST

Lawyer who withdrew cash from trust account with ATM card gets suspended

A lawyer who made personal cash withdrawals from his lawyer trust account with an ATM card has been suspended for three years.

Feb 20, 2020 11:51 AM CST

In ‘Bart Simpson-esque’ punishment, lawyer is ordered to pledge compliance with ethics rules in legible handwriting

A Cleveland-area lawyer had to show his contrition with a $500 fine and a written mea culpa as a result of a judge’s order last week.

Feb 18, 2020 1:53 PM CST

Lawyer is suspended after he is accused of misleading and bullying judge

The Tennessee Supreme Court has suspended a Georgia lawyer after a hearing board found that he misled an administrative law judge and bullied her during his representation of a methadone clinic.

Feb 13, 2020 10:18 AM CST

State supreme court disbars lawyer who used money from his trust account to run strip club

The Florida Supreme Court has disbarred a suspended lawyer who operated a strip club with money from his attorney trust account.

Feb 11, 2020 10:47 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: 2-time SCOTUS litigant gets settlement; at-large judge elections upheld in voting rights case

Florida man wins $875K settlement after two trips to the Supreme Court A Florida man who won twice in the U.S. Supreme Court will get an $875,000 settlement for his troubles from the city of Riviera Beach. Litigant Fane Lozman said the money covers his legal fees but “it doesn’t…

Feb 6, 2020 4:11 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Utah allows bar admission for DACA immigrants; first openly gay federal judge dies

Utah allows bar admission for DACA immigrants The Utah Supreme Court has approved a new rule that allows immigrants brought to the country illegally as children to gain admission to the state bar. The U.S. Department of Justice had opposed the move, citing the Trump administration’s decision to rescind the…

Feb 4, 2020 3:14 PM CST

Former BigLaw partner is suspended after writing himself checks from firm, claiming gambling addiction

A former partner at Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker has been suspended after an ethics panel concluded that he wrote himself checks from the law firm’s operating account and then lied about a gambling addiction.

Feb 4, 2020 1:45 PM CST

Lawyer is reprimanded for lifting quotes from Supreme Court justices on her judicial application

An Arizona lawyer has been reprimanded for lifting quotes from U.S. Supreme Court justices on her application for a seat on the state’s court of appeals.

Feb 3, 2020 10:37 AM CST

Is it time to reevaluate the standard for legal malpractice in criminal cases?

Consider this scenario: A criminal defense lawyer convinces his client to take a plea bargain that is not a good deal. The lawyer does not investigate the crime, hire an expert, visit the scene, or contact potential alibi witnesses. The attorney allows the client to waive his constitutional rights. When…

Feb 1, 2020 12:40 AM CST

Sanctions upheld against lawyer accused of billing for work done after his client fired him

A Texas appeals court has upheld sanctions against a Houston lawyer accused of seeking attorney fees in a contingency case for work that he couldn’t have performed and for work done after his firing.

Jan 29, 2020 10:54 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: California bar seeks proposals on nonlawyer practitioners; online ‘sneak-in’ contracts abound

California bar working group to consider licensing nonlawyer practitioners The State Bar of California is forming a working group to make recommendations on the licensing of nonlawyers to perform some legal services. The move follows the bar’s request for comment last year on proposals allowing legal technicians to offer legal…

Jan 28, 2020 4:01 PM CST

Fired partner is accused of double billing, charging personal expenses to firm

A former Vedder Price partner in Chicago is accused in an ethics complaint of double billing for legal services and charging the firm for personal expenses.

Jan 15, 2020 10:26 AM CST

Judge censured after representing daughter in family law court

The State of New York Commission on Judicial Conduct found that Judge William Edwards’ conduct was close to warranting removal, but because he had admitted his behavior warranted public discipline, censure was appropriate.

Jan 13, 2020 1:56 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Harvey Weinstein threatened with jail for courtroom phone use; Supreme Court closes for weather

Judge threatens to jail Harvey Weinstein after he uses cellphone in court On Tuesday, a Manhattan judge threatened to jail former film producer Harvey Weinstein for using his cellphone in the courtroom where jurors will be picked for his rape trial. “Is this really the way you want to end…

Jan 7, 2020 2:58 PM CST