Opinion ID: 2335436
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The goals of a disciplinary and the applicable standard:

Text: The Delaware Supreme Court has set forth the goals of the disciplinary system and the applicable standard: The objectives of the lawyer disciplinary system are to protect the public, to protect the administration of justice, to preserve confidence in the legal profession, and to deter other lawyers from similar misconduct. To further these objectives and to promote consistency and predictability in the imposition of disciplinary sanctions, the Court looks to the ABA Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions as a model for determining the appropriate discipline warranted under the circumstances of each case. The ABA framework consists of four key factors to be considered by the Court: (a) the ethical duty violated; (b) the lawyer's mental state; (c) the extent of the actual or potential injury caused by the lawyer's misconduct; and (d) aggravating and mitigating factors. In Re Bailey, 821 A.2d 851, 866 (Del. 2003). The Delaware Supreme Court has also emphasized that the purpose of the rules is not to punish lawyers. In Re Reardon, 759 A. 2d 568, 575 (Del. 2000), citing In Re Benge, 754 A.2d 871, 879 (Del. 2000).