The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-06-15
District Court Facilitates
Prosecution of Dis
honest Attorneys.
ALTERATION OF RULES
District Attorney Relieved
of the Burden of Initial
ing Investigation.

District of Columbia were this after
noon amended to facilitate the disbar-
n.ent of attorneys who are guilty OF un-
professional and dishonest conduct.
The new rule adopted by the court
relieves the District Attorney Of the
task of initiating proceedings for dis
barment.
This duty will now fall to a grievance
committee, an adjunct of the court
whose members will be selected by the
court from members Of the bar at large.
The committee will be a permanent
body. subject only to change in the per-
sonnel Of its members. It will initiate
investigation into the conduct of mem
bers of the bar. either by reference from
the court, on the strength of complaint,
or Of .ts own vol:tion
On the finding of sufficient grounds to
impugn the character of a member of
the bar the findings will be laid before
the District Attorney. who will be re-
Quired then to prosecute the accused be-
fore the bar of the court.
Hugh I. Ta-gart, president of the Bar
Association, in discussing the matter,
said:
The Bar Association of the District
of Columbia has fully realized the dis
credit brought upon the profession by
misconduct la their office on the part
of members 5f the District bar, and
the necessity of bringing such Offend
what was in its power under the exist
Ing rules of the court to accomplish
that end.
Matter Taken Up.
About two months ago, a circular
letter addressed to the members Of the
bar was issued by order of the board
n and OF I'll
mitree of the association. in which the
attention Of such members was called
to the fact that the conduct OF certain
individual members of the bar had Civ
en- rise to criticism OF the members Of
the profession generally, and further
calling their attention to the rule Of the
Supreme Court of the District and the
the matter, and earnestly requesting
that the attention of the committee be
called to any and all acts of unprofeS-
eional conduct on the part of any and
all members of the bar.
1t then became apparent that the
rule of the court was inadequate. The
rule provides that whenever complaint
In writing, charging member of the
bar with unprofessional conduct, is
made. and brought to the attention of
the United States attorney, the latter
shall investigate. If the probable cause
for such complaint be found he shall
formulate and present charges to the
court. 1t is made his duty to be pres
ent, either in person or by one Of his
assistants, at any hearing upon the
charge, and conduct the same as prose-
outor.
District Attorney Too Busy.
Demands upon the time of the Dis
trict Attorney and his assistants In the
performance of their ordinary legal
duties rendered ii impossible for them
to comply with the requirements of this
additional burden. Prompt action could
not be had upon the cases submitted
under the rule.
The board of directors and the griev-
q radical change in the rule was neces-
Sary, and took under careful considera-
ton the matter of a new rule to be
admitted to the court for adoption In
lieu of the existing one. Their efforts
have resulted in the adoption by the
court Of the rule which they proposed
and submitted.
rs we think, simple, and will effectuaIly
conduce to prompt investigation and
action in all cases Of professional mis-
conduct and TO the purgation of the
bar of its unworthy members"
The court after announcing the adop-
tfon Of the new rules. appointed the fol
lowing gentlemen as members of the
new grievance committee:
William F. Mattingly, chairman; Jos
eph j. Darlington, Henry D. Blair, Alex.
ander ii. Bell. end A A Hoehling