Most are dismissed because they are unfounded or for lack of jurisdiction. They remain secret forever. Sometimes, even the people who file complaints do not know the outcome. Last summer, Bar President Joseph A. Condo of Vienna appointed a 20-member task force of lawyers, legislators and laypeople to study whether, and how, to open the system. The idea so alarms some lawyers that Condo had to reassure them that he did not support a completely open system.
Condo opposes making all bar complaints public.
He endorses opening only complaints that are deemed credible by bar investigators and staff lawyers. A bar staff member decides whether it's an issue over which the bar has jurisdiction. Two-thirds of all complaints are dismissed at this stage. Then the lawyer responds, the complainer replies, and the bar counsel decides if an investigation is warranted. If so, an investigator talks to both sides and reports facts and conclusions.