Opinion ID: 2139036
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure to Assist Disciplinary Committees.

Text: Failure to respond to inquiries from the Committee on Professional Ethics and Conduct of the Iowa State Bar Association is misconduct. See Committee on Professional Ethics and Conduct v. Bromwell, 389 N.W.2d 854, 856 (Iowa 1986). We believe this holding also applies to county grievance committees. Ethical Consideration 1-4 provides that a lawyer should ... assist committees and boards having responsibility for the administration of the disciplinary rules. It makes no distinction between local and state committees investigating complaints against lawyers. We believe a lawyer should assist both. Moreover, even though a complaint is withdrawn, the duty to assist such committees continues. Stienstra neither responded to the two disciplinary committees nor offered a reasonable explanation for refusing to respond. His attitude reflects disdain for the disciplinary system. We conclude Stienstra violated DR 1-102(A)(1), (5), (6), EC 1-4, and EC 1-5.