Common Cause Indiana offers CLE examining call for code of ethics at SCOTUS
The annual Good Government CLE hosted by Common Cause Indiana will focus on the U.S. Supreme Court and the push for the justices to adopt a code of ethics.
Ethics & Professional Responsibility
-
Web Exclusive: Supreme Court in no hurry to find new attorney ethics director
With the search underway for only the third director of the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission, one thing seems certain: The court will take its time finding a successor for retired leader G. Michael Witte.
Read More -
Calling it a career: Lawyer ethics director Witte retiring
After 39 years, G. Michael Witte, executive director of the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission, is calling it a career — sort of.
Read More -
AG Hill suspended for 30 days with automatic reinstatement
Finding Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill guilty of misdemeanor battery and two related violations of the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct, the Indiana Supreme Court has ordered him to serve a 30-day suspension.
Read More -
Man charged in judges’ shooting claims self-defense, says judges were aggressors
The man charged with shooting two southern Indiana judges outside an Indianapolis fast food restaurant last year claimed in a Tuesday court filing that he acted in self-defense. The notice of affirmative defense also alleges the judges were the aggressors as alleged gunman Brandon Kaiser and his nephew, Alfredo Vazquez, were stopping to eat at a downtown White Castle, where the shooting took place in the parking lot.
Read More
Articles
Split ABA ethics committee issues guidance on self-represented attorneys
A divided American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released a formal opinion Wednesday seeking to clarify the interpretation of a model rule about self-represented lawyers’ communications with represented parties in a case.
Cardoza-Jones: Ethical questions raised by the conduct of Indiana AG Rokita
Recently reported evidence suggests Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita may have violated the following Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct, according to Paula Cardoz-Jones.
IndyBar: Ethics: When Silence Is Not Golden: The BOOM SHAKALAKA Defense
This article was originally published in Indiana Lawyer in 2020. Our authors recognize that some references are dated; however, the content is continually relevant to practitioners and is being reprinted for those that missed it the first time.
Disciplinary Commission publishes advisory opinion on conflicts of interest
The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission has issued an advisory opinion focused on when attorneys must decline to represent a client or withdraw from a current representation due to a conflict of interest.
Grass: Supervising nonlawyer assistants: Lawyers’ duties
Here are three things to know about the requirement to directly supervise nonlawyers.
ABA provides guidance on client solicitation in new ethics opinion
The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has released guidance on lawyer solicitation of new clients via “live person-to-person contact.”
Bell and Grass: 3 things to know: Commenting on pending legal matters
Have you recently been hired on a case and know the media want to talk to you? Before you post a comment on social media or conduct an interview, you should stop and think of the potential ethical implications. Those implications are outlined in the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission’s recently issued Advisory Opinion 1-22, “Lawyers’ Public Comments on Pending Matters.”
Advisory opinions offered on statements made by judicial candidates, lawyers commenting on pending legal matters
The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications and Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission have issued advisory opinions regarding statements targeted at opponents made by candidates running for judicial office and public statements made by lawyers regarding pending disputes, including on social media.
Former Adams Co. judge banned from judicial service for life following campaign-related misconduct
A former Adams County Drug Court judge has been banned from judicial service in Indiana for life after violating judicial conduct rules related to his failed 2020 reelection campaign.
Chief Justice Roberts reminds federal judiciary of ethical standards
In his year-end report, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts highlighted the need for “more rigorous” ethics training for the federal judiciary and possibly additional funding from Congress to prevent judges from presiding over cases in which they have a conflict of interest.
Attorneys refreshed on ethical obligations in ‘new normal’ at LegCon
Attorneys were reminded about the dangers of allowing comfort and convenience exacerbated by the pandemic to bleed into professionalism during the 30th annual Dentons Legislative Conference on Wednesday in Indianapolis.
Nonlawyer assistant’s failure to properly notarize is attorney’s responsibility, disciplinary commission advises
Attorneys are responsible for ensuring that their nonlawyer assistants properly notarize documents, a new advisory opinion from the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission says. If not, supervising attorneys can face discipline.
Indianapolis attorney’s discipline converted to indefinite suspension
Indiana Supreme Court justices have indefinitely suspended an Indianapolis lawyer who was suspended earlier this year for failing to cooperate with the disciplinary commission concerning a grievance against her.
Bell and Grass: 3 things to know about speaking with represented people
Can a criminal defense attorney depose the victim in a domestic violence incident without getting the consent of the victim’s divorce lawyer? Can a family law attorney depose the opposing party about a personal injury lawsuit without the personal injury lawyer’s consent? That depends on what those lawyers want to ask about and whether they have the witness’s counsel’s consent.
Lawsuit seeks report on AG’s former private sector job
A lawsuit filed Wednesday in Marion Superior Court is giving fresh scrutiny to Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita’s continued employment at a private company while he was beginning his term as the state’s top lawyer.
Judge orders Justice Department to release Trump obstruction memo
A federal judge has ordered the release of a legal memorandum the Trump-era Justice Department prepared for then-Attorney General William Barr before he announced his conclusion that President Donald Trump had not obstructed justice during the Russia investigation.
Former magistrate banned from the bench now suspended for ignoring show-cause order
The former Hamilton County magistrate who is banned from the bench following his conviction related to a drug sting is now suspended from practicing law after he failed to respond to a show cause order alleging probation violations.
Fired immigration lawyer who refused to withdraw gets brief suspension, probation
An Indianapolis lawyer who tried to continue representing clients in an immigration matter after being fired for noncommunication has been temporarily suspended from the practice of law.
Indianapolis lawyer suspended for noncooperation
The Indiana Supreme Court has indefinitely suspended an Indianapolis lawyer who failed to comply with a disciplinary investigation against her.