ABA Journal

Ethics

8201 ABA Journal Ethics articles.

Justice Thomas attended Koch network donor events, interacted with the brothers at retreats, report says

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has attended at least two donor events orchestrated by the Koch network and has developed a bond with the conservative Koch brothers during all-male retreats, according to a new report by ProPublica.

Sullivan & Cromwell’s history with FTX draws scrutiny as it racks up bankruptcy fees

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has alleged that Sullivan & Cromwell lawyers made him the fall guy in the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange while downplaying its work for the company.

Ex-lawyer Alex Murdaugh, serving time for murder, pleads guilty to stealing from clients

Disbarred South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh pleaded guilty Thursday to 22 federal charges for stealing millions of dollars from clients and the estate of his late housekeeper.

As California changes ethics rules, surveyed lawyers express concern about integrity of the profession

Lawyers who back ethics reform are most concerned about maintaining the integrity of the legal profession, according to a survey by Bloomberg Law.

Lawyer suspended for trying to attend 2 online CLE programs at once

A lawyer’s Maine law license has been suspended after he tried to get continuing legal education credit for attending online programs that happened at the same time.

Covington settles SEC suit demanding names of clients affected by data breach

Covington & Burling has agreed to turn over to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission the names of six corporate clients apparently affected by a data breach, resolving an agency lawsuit that at first sought the names of 298 publicly traded clients.

Indiana AG faces ethics charges for these comments on doc who provided abortion to 10-year-old

Republican Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is facing ethics charges for comments that he made about his investigation of an “abortion activist acting as a doctor” who provided an abortion to a 10-year-old girl.

Texas AG Paxton warns Biden administration to ‘buckle up’ after acquittal at impeachment trial

After his acquittal at an impeachment trial Saturday, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alleged that the “sham” proceeding was coordinated by the Biden administration along with the “liberal” speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Republican Dade Phelan.

Former ABA executive director joins Rocket Lawyer, hopes to expand access to justice

Former ABA Executive Director Jack Rives hopes to play a role in expanding access to justice in his new position at online legal services company Rocket Lawyer.

‘Torture Memos’ author testifies in ethics hearing to support Eastman’s ideas on Pence as election arbiter

John Yoo, a professor at the University of California at Berkeley School of Law—known for the Department of Justice "Torture Memos" that he wrote supporting waterboarding—testified Tuesday in support of one of John Eastman’s legal theories on how to overturn the 2020 election.

Leading criminal defense lawyer who represented Clinton in sex scandals dies at 84

Lawyer Robert S. Bennett, known for his representation of high-profile clients enmeshed in scandal, has died at age 84.

Criminal charges add twist to Trump lawyers’ disciplinary cases

“Lawyers take an oath, and they have a responsibility that’s not just to their client but to the larger legal community, to the profession and to democracy. When you have lawyers who are working against the rule of law [it’s important] to bring a comprehensive system of accountability,” says Michael J. Teter, the managing director of the 65 Project.

In ‘watershed moment,’ report recommends new guidelines for public defender caseloads

Many public defenders are “overloaded” with work, even when caseloads are evaluated under outdated guidelines drafted in 1973 that don't reflect modern-day realities, according to a new study released Tuesday.

Lawyer hired to investigate enemies of Texas AG’s friend was misled and never paid, he testifies

A Houston lawyer hired by suspended Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to investigate conspiracy claims by Paxton’s developer friend has said he was misled and never paid for his work.

MyPillow CEO rails against lawyers in defamation depositions, says he doesn’t make ‘lumpy pillows’

Lawyers contend that MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell was “combative, vulgar, disrespectful, nonresponsive, evasive and consistently loud” during three depositions in a defamation case against him.

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