Grass: Supervising nonlawyer assistants: Lawyers’ duties
Here are three things to know about the requirement to directly supervise nonlawyers.
Ethics & Professional Responsibility
Articles
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.
Wisconsin seeks legal fees, citing Indy firm’s ‘egregious conduct’ in Trump election suit
An Indianapolis law firm that represented former President Donald Trump in a failed attempt to overturn the results of the November 2020 Wisconsin election should pay at least $145,000 in attorney fees as a sanction for bringing a “meritless” case, filings by the state defendants say.
Justices revise Blickman discipline order in Park Tudor case
The Indiana Supreme Court on Friday amended its order reprimanding Ice Miller employment attorney Michael Blickman, removing language that said he told authorities he didn’t know where images were in a Park Tudor High School sexting scandal between a coach and a student in which Blickman represented the school.
AG Rokita continuing business advisory roles
Indiana’s new attorney general is being paid by private businesses for consulting work, including $25,000 a year for advising a Connecticut-based pharmaceutical company, according to a newspaper report.
Indiana police reform bill sails through Senate committee
A bipartisan bill aimed at increasing police accountability and enacting criminal justice reform advanced with unanimous support from a key Indiana Senate committee Tuesday.
Casino exec Ratcliff permanently banned from Indiana gambling industry
Longtime Indiana casino executive Rod Ratcliff has been permanently banned from the state’s gambling industry. Ratcliff, who previously served as chairman and CEO of Centaur Gaming and as CEO and chairman of Spectacle Entertainment, has been entangled in a battle with the Indiana Gaming Commission for months, as the state agency has been investigating Ratcliff and his companies.