Case Title: RULES FOR LAWYER DISCIPLINARY ENFOR

Citation: 

Docket Number: 

State: montana

Court: Montana Supreme Court

Date: 2007-03-21T00:00:00Z

Document:
1 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA AF 06-0628 ______________ IN THE MATTER OF THE RULES ) OF LAWYER DISCIPLINARY ENFORCEMENT ) ORDER _____________ Rule 16 of the Montana Rules of Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement states, in part, that [a]fter service of a copy of the findings of fact and conclusions of law and recommendation of discipline to the lawyer and to lawyer’s counsel, if any, the lawyer shall have thirty days from date of service within which to file with the Court objections to the findings of fact and conclusions of law and recommendation of discipline, and a written brief in support thereof. The rule further provides that, after the lawyer serves a copy of the objections and brief on Disciplinary Counsel, Disciplinary Counsel shall have thirty days to file an opposing brief and serve it on the lawyer or lawyer’s counsel. In addition, the rule states that after such filings, or at the expiration of the time allowed for such filings, the Court shall consider the matter, issue its written decision, and impose such discipline as it deems appropriate. Rule 16 is clearly meant to be self-executing. In the past, however, this Court often has issued orders specifying that a lawyer has thirty days to file objections. Because the rule does not require such an order and a lawyer subject to disciplinary proceedings is on notice about the applicability of the Montana Rules of Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement, we will do so no longer. THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that, effective May 1, 2007, this Court will no longer issue orders expressly providing 30 days for the filing of objections to findings, conclusions and recommendations of the Commission on Practice; and IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, on and after May 1, 2007, the time limits in Rule 16 of the Montana Rules of Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement shall be self-executing. The Clerk is directed to electronically transmit a copy of this Order to the State Bar of Montana with a request that it be posted on the State Bar’s website and published in the 2 Montana Lawyer; to the State Law Library with a request that it be posted on the library’s website; and to Gregory Petesch, Code Commissioner and Director of Legal Services for the Montana Legislative Services Division. DATED this 21st day of March, 2007. /S/ KARLA M. GRAY /S/ PATRICIA COTTER /S/ JOHN WARNER /S/ W. WILLIAM LEAPHART /S/ BRIAN MORRIS /S/ JAMES C. NELSON /S/ JIM RICE