Opinion ID: 1356782
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Practice Before the Court Without Admission

Text: Koenig has represented at least eleven petitioners before the Court, but has never sought admission to the Second Circuit bar. According to Koenig, he believed that his admission to the Southern District of New York also permitted him to practice before the Second Circuit. Response, at 1; Tr. 23:13-24:4. He did not believe that there was any distinction between the admission requirements for the District Court and the Court of Appeals. Id. This conduct is plainly in violation of Local Rule 46(d), which provides that [c]ounsel of record for all parties must be admitted to practice before this court. See also Fed. R.App. P. 46 (setting forth admission requirements for practice before federal courts of appeals). Aggravating factors include: (1) Koenig's substantial experience in the practice of law; (2) the vulnerability of his immigrant clients; and (3) Koenig's failure to acknowledge wrongdoing. ABA Standards § 9.22(i), (h), (g). Mitigating factors include lack of a prior disciplinary record and lack of a dishonest or selfish motive concerning this conduct. ABA Standards § 9.32(a) & (b).