Case Title: Rules of Discipline v. Rules

Citation: 

Docket Number: 

State: mississippi

Court: Mississippi Supreme Court

Date: 2002-04-18T00:00:00Z

Document:
Serial: 95290
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI

No. 89-R-99010-SCT

FILED

  

IN RE: RULES OF DISCIPLINE FOR APR 18 2002
THE MISSISSIPPI BAR cornice oF THE CLERK
RURTOF APPEALS
and

No, 89-R-99018

 

IN RE: MISSISSIPPI RULES OF
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
ORDER

‘Tn matter has come betore the Court en banc on Petition to Amend the Rules of
Discipline and Rules of Professional Conduct for The Mississippi Bar filed hy The
Mississippi Bar, secking amendment of such rules as they relate tothe Lawyers and Judges
Assistance Committee. Having considered the petition, the Court finds that it should be
‘ranted to the extent set forth inthis order and that Rules 3.2(g), 7, and 8, including Rule
8.6,of the Rules of Discipline for The Mississippi Bar and Rule 1.6 of The Mississippi Rules
of Professional Conduct should be amended as set forth herein. The Court finds Further that
such amendments to the rules will promote the fir and efficient administration of justice

ITIS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Petition to Amend the Rules of Discipline

and Rules of Professi

 

(Conduct for The Mississippi Dat Gled by The Mississippi Bat is

‘granted to the extent set forth herein; that Rules 3.2(g), 7, and 8, including Rule 8.6, of the
‘ules of Discipline for Lhe Mississippi Bar are amended as set forth in Exhibit “A” hereto,

and that Rule 1.6 of the Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct is amended as set forth

 

in Exhibit “B” hereto.”
ITISFURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk ofthis Court shall spread this order
fon the minutes of this Court and that it be submitted to West Publishing Company for

pobl

 

jon in the Southern Reporter (Mississippi Fition) and in the Missiseippi Rules of
Court

s*
SO ORDERED, this the 1S day of April, 2002.

 

WILLIAM L. WALLER, JR,, JUSTICE,

FOR THE COURT
EASLEY, J, NOT PARTICIPATING

 
EXHIBIT “A” 10 ORDER

AMENDMENTS TO RULES OF DISCIPLINE OF MISSISSIPPI BAR

RULE 3. DISCIPLINARY AGENCIES DESIGNATED

Procedure

 

(3.2) The agencies shall be composed of active practicing attorneys or judges ofthe
Cirenit, Chancery or County Courts wha are members of the Bar of this State and shall
further be constituted as follows:

(2) The Board of Commissioners of the Bar is authorized to establish a program of
evaluation, intervention, treatment, monitoring and asistance for attorneys who suffer from
chemical dependence or from physical, emotional, or mental disabilities that result from
discase, disorder, trauma or age, and which impairs or tends to impair their ability to practice
and their professional conduct. Such program shall be implemented by a Lawyers and
Judges Assistance (LJA) Committee appointed by the President of the Bar, provided, no
‘member of other disciplinary agencies shall be a member of the LJA Committee. Such
Commitie's creation shall in no way be construed to hinder, limit or otherwise affect any
ther dicciplinary process. The LJA Committe shall be governed hy appeaprintereglatione
promulgatedby the LIA Commitee and approved by the Board of Commissioners of the Bar
consistent with these rules. The LIA Committee shall have the following responsibilities,
powers and immunities.

 

  

(1) Jurisdiction to investigate and evaluate allegations of attorney
‘impairment arising from chemical dependency or physical, mental or
emotional disability, which specifically includes, but
oufersing with auy attorasy who isthe subject of auch allegations a9 to such
allegations, and making recommendations to such attomey, should it be
determined that he or she in facts impaired, of sources of remedial assistance;

 

 

(2) Perform similar functions as to cases referred to it by a disciplinary
agency, reporting the results thereof tothe referring agency;

(3) Except as noted in the these Rules, allegations and information
urmished, results of mvestigations, conferences and the like shall be privileged
communication and held in the sinctest conhdence between the attorney
involved and the LJA Committee;_however, the status of compliance of an

 
 

‘communication

i ‘The provisions of Rule 14 shall be
applicable to the LIA Committe in its actions on allegations of impairment
affecting attorneys. For good cause shown where the allegations of
impairment are made by the attorney's family, the LJA Committee may, ints
discretion, release such information to such person or persons as in its
{judgment will be inthe best interest of the attorney involved;

(4) Should such investigation and evaluation clearly indicate thatan the
attomey involved other than an afomey who has been referred to the LIA
Tule is impaired or engaging in conduct detrimental to the public, the courts,
‘or the legal profession, the LIA Commitee shal take such action, including,
if warranted, notification of Complaint Counsel, as may appear appropriate to
the LIA Committee;

(5) In regard to an attorney who has been referred to the LIA
‘Committee by a disciplinary agency as defined by Rule 3c) ot (d) ofthese

alah auc sad

involved is impaired or engaged in_conduct detrimental to the public the

‘courts, othe legal profession the LJA Committe shall take such action as

‘may appear appropriate to the LA Committee, including, but not limited to,
r of the nono

(6) 5) The LIA Committee may, under appropriate rules and regulations
approved by he Board of Commissioners of the Bar, creat action groups which may
‘xercise any oral of the functions st forth herein tothe extent provided in any such
rules and regulations, Such action groups shall have allo te immunities provided
for the LIA Commitee.

[9.2() wikleu Februsy 9, 1988, 3.2 amended November 16, 1995; amended January 16,
1996; amended April 18, 2002.)

 
RULE?
COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
DUTIES AND POWERS

(a) The Committee shall function as a grand jury in matters of attomey discipline.

(&) Upon receipt ofa complaint, Complaint Counsel's report and any response by the
attomey, within a reasonable time the Committee shal:

() Dismiss any complaint without merit and retire the file; oF
(i) Direct or conduct further investigation if needed; or

(iii) Refer the matter to Complaint Counsel for filing and prosecution
of a Formal Complaint; or

(iv) If investigation discloses a minor ethical violation or instance of
relatively trivial misconduct or an isolated instance of a minor nature, then the
committee shall be authorized to issue a letter of admonition, a. private
reprimand, or a public reprimand.

th th wd accor who
int in_additi m

yn. and

 

(Committee under Gi), (ii) or (iv) of thio paragraph, not withstanding the
provisions of Rule 15(a) ofthese rules, delay final action andzeferthe attorney
to the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Committee for evaluation and, as
‘contended by be Lowe and ges Assn Comme, sana
‘monitoring and assistance,

(©) Ifissued, a letter of admonition, a private reprimand, or a public reprimand shall
bbe sent to the accused attorney and a copy shall be sent to the complaining party. The
‘accused attorney shall have aright within twenty days ufter reveipt of tre etter vr reprimand
to request in writing that a formal disciplinary proceeding be initiated against him to
‘adjudicate the propriety of the conduct upon which the admonition or reprimand is based,
If'such request is timely made, the leter of admonition or reprimand shall be vacated, and
‘the matter shall be processed by means ofa formal complaint. An informal admonition shall
not by used as a substitute for and shall not be considered, diceipline. However, the fact,
nature, and cause of such informal admonition may be disclosed in any subsequent
disciplinary proceedings against the accused attorney for an informal admonition, private
reprimand, or public reprimand and issued by the Committee.

 
 

  

[Amended November 16, 1995; amended April 18, 2002]
{d) Referral to the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Committee may not be used as a

r ‘may not be considered, discipline. However, ni
les, the layany at
le provided who is
stance! C T
i Assist
such ions of Rul
vers af ‘Assistanc
les, shall report such al

 

 

not to ine! 9f the Committee

[Amended November 16, 1995; amended April 18,2002]

 

RULE 8. COMPLAINT TRIBUNAL - POWERS AND DUTIES.

(a) All formal complaints shall be filed with the Clerk of the court and the Court shall
ddesignatea Complaint Tribunal to hear and determine the matter. Hearings before Complaint
‘Tribunals chall be ag eases in chancery.

 

(b) At the conclusion ofthe hearing, upon majority vote, the tribunal shall render @
\wntten opinion incorporating a finding of fact and a judgment which may:

(9 Exonerate the accused attomey and dismiss the Formal Complaint;

 

i) Publicly or privately reprimand the attomey; or

(ii) Suspend the attorney with or without probation fora fixed period
‘of time and may specify conditions precedent to reinstatement; or

(jv) Disbar the attomey. or
wy Inada isposi , .
he assent i ‘whi
subiect ofthe complaint, notwithstanding the provisions of Rule
15 of these rules. refer the attomey tothe Lawyers and Judges
‘Assistance Committee for evaluation and as recommended by

[Amends 2002,

Procedure

 

 

(8.6) Imposition of Discipline. No discipline shall be imposed except upon clear and
‘convincing evidence. After final hearing on the merits, the opinion of the Tribunal may
provide the following:

(i) Exonerate the accused attomey and dismiss the Formal Complaint,

(Gi) Publicty or privately reprimand the attorney. Ifthe Tribunal is of
the opinion that a private reprimand will adequately afford the disciplinary
sanctions required by the particular circumstances, the Tribunal may order the
attomey to appear before the Board of Commissioners ofthe Bar atthe board
resting convening frst after the reprimand becomes final or may have it
forwarded tothe atiomey by the Clerk of the Court orby certified mail, return
receipt requested, restricted delivery to addressee only. If the Tribunal is of
the opinion that a Public Reprimand will adequately afford the disciplinary
sanctions required by the particular circumstances, the Tribunal may order the
attomey to appear before the Circuit Court of the attomey's county of
residence on the fist day of term convening next after the date the reprimand
becomes final or on some other similar day when @ maximum number of the
Bar and the public are present. When a reprimand becomes public, a copy
shall be given tothe person filing the complaint, the Executive Director ofthe
Bar and to the judges of the cicuit and chancery districts of the attorney's
county of residence. A Final Public Reprimand shal be read by the senior
judge or his designee atthe time herein indicated and placed upon the minutes
of the Court

 

(ii) Suspend the attorney with or without probation for a fixed period
of time, and may specity conditions precedent 1 reinstatement. When such
‘orders of suspension become public, they shall be placed upon the minutes of
the chancery and circuit courts ofthe attomey's county of residence, and shall
immediately become maters of public revord.

5
(ay) Disbar the attomey. Such orders, when entered, shall be treated us

 

provided in subparagraph (ii), above.
v) In addition to Ci (ii), or Gv), notwithstanding the provisions of
‘with the as the at
valuati uch
ment, monitori ‘The
iv) of this Ri Lan
referred stance Ce the Trib
‘complies with, ns imposed
Assi violates the

G.2e\Safthsemlesshallcor such auto comply withll terms and
conditions imposed upon the aforney by the Lawyers and Judges Assistance
(Committee. and upon eceipt of suchreport, the Tribunal may take such ation

u which the coriginall

taken,
[Amended November 16, 1995; amended April 18, 2002.)
EXHIBIT “B" TO ORDER

AMENDMENT TO MISSISSIPPI RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

RULE 1.6 CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION

(a) A lawyer shall not reveal information, which is confidential or privileged by law,
or relating to representation of a client, which a lawyer has reason to believe may be
detrimental to the client or which client has requested not be disclosed.

 

(b) A lawyer may reveal such information tothe extent the lawyer reasonably believes
necessary:

 

g lien fons oo

 

a) w prevent

 

img i

 

(2) to establish a claim or defense on behalf of the lawyer in a
‘controversy between the lawyer and the client, to establish a defense to a
criminal charge or civil claim against the lawyer based upon conduct in which
the client wae involved, or to reapond to allegations in any proceeding
‘concerning the lawyer's representation of the client.

(6) A lawyer who participates in an intervention on a lawyer, judge or law student by

the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Committee shall not reveal any information
though the i we rv
tion is conducted except as the Rules of Discipline of the

Mississippi Bar or requited by law or court order,

(@)_A lawyer shall reveal information to the Lawyers and Judges Assistance
(Committee in aceordance with approved monitoring procedures of the Lawyers and Judges
‘Assistance Commitee relating to the satus of compliance of lawyer judge orlaw student
‘with the te ‘student

en

   

(2) 2) A lawyer may reveal such information to the extent required by law or court
order.

[Amended June 23, 1994; amended April 18, 2002]
‘Comment

[The Comment to Rule 1.6 remains unchanged }