Opinion ID: 801684
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Committee's Role and Standard of Review

Text: Under the Rules of the Committee on Admissions and Grievances for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (Committee Rules), An attorney may be subject to discipline or other corrective measures for any act or omission that violates the rules of professional conduct or responsibil ity of the state or other jurisdiction where the attorney 5 n:ai~ta~ns his or her principal office .... An attorney may also be subject to disciplIne or other corrective measures for any failure to comply with a Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure, a Local Rule of the Court an order or other. i~s.truction of the Court, or a rule of professional cond~ct or responsIbIlity of the COUl1, or any other conduct unbecoming a member of the bar. Committee Rule 4; see also Fed. R. App. P. 46(c) ([A] court of appeals may discipline an attorney who practices before it for conduct unbecoming a member of the bar or for failure to comply with any court rule.). Conduct unbecoming a member of the bar includes conduct contrary to professional standards that shows an unfitness to discharge continuing obligations to clients or the courts, or conduct inimical to the administration of justice. More specific guidance is provided by case law, applicable court rules, and 'the lore of the profession,' as embodied in codes of professional conduct. In re: Snyder, 472 U.S. 634,645 (1985). The Committee's finding that an attorney has engaged in misconduct or is otherwise subject to corrective measures must be supported by clear and convincing evidence. Committee Rule 7(h) . If this burden is met, the Committee will then generally consider (a) the duty violated; (b) the lawyer's mental state; (c) the actual or potential injury caused by the lawyer's misconduct; and (d) the existence of aggravating or mitigating factors, in order to determine the sanction, ifany, to recommend to the Court. See American Bar Association's Standards for Tmposing Lawyer Sanctions (ABA Standards) § 3.0. The Committee may recommend to the Court's Grievance Panel a range of sanctions, including disbarment, suspension, public or private reprimand, monetary sanction, removal from Q!:Q bono or Criminal Justice Act panels, referral to other disciplinary bodies, supervision by a special master, counseling or treatment, or such other disciplinary or corrective measures as the circumstances may warrant. Committee Rule 6.