Opinion ID: 2977389
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Pro Hac Vice Admission Revocation

Text: The bankruptcy court is vested with discretion to determine if an attorney’s pro hac vice admission should be granted or revoked. D.H. Overmyer Co. v. Robson, 750 F.2d 31, 34 (6th Cir. 1984). Local Bankruptcy Rule 2090-1 of the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio provides that: “[a]ny member in good standing of the Bar of any court of the United States or of the highest court of any state may, upon written or oral motion, be permitted to appear and participate in a case or proceeding.” (Emphasis added.) The language of this rule makes it clear that the decision to grant, or revoke, admission pro hac vice is vested in the sound discretion of the bankruptcy court. See D.H. Overmyer Co., 750 F.2d at 33. As the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals held in examining a similar district court local rule, this is the codification of the inherent authority of the courts to regulate the practice of law before them. Id. Because the bankruptcy court is vested with this discretion, a reviewing court “should not interpose its authority to overturn a lower court’s decision to discipline an attorney absent a showing that the conduct of the court below ‘was irregular, or was flagrantly improper.’” Id. (quoting Ex Parte Burr, 22 U.S. 529, 531 (1824)). Where the judge’s reason for revoking an attorney’s pro hac vice admission is supported by the record, the court cannot be found to have abused its discretion. Id. at 34. In its ruling, the bankruptcy court succinctly set forth the actions of Armstrong which gave rise to the Show Cause Order. The bankruptcy court found that Armstrong was unprofessional and -10- disrespectful and that he exhibited argumentative, disruptive, and antagonistic behavior toward the court. While it certainly is difficult to assess some of the bankruptcy court’s findings for revoking the pro hac vice admission of Armstrong without a video recording of the proceedings, i.e., that he used a disrespectful tone of voice toward the court, rolled his eyes at the court, raised his voice, or made faces while the court was speaking, the transcript does appear, overall, to support the bankruptcy court’s findings with respect to Armstrong’s conduct. Moreover, during the Show Cause Hearing, Armstrong acknowledged rolling his eyes at the bankruptcy court. Even without considering the violation of the pre-trial motion in limine order, these grounds alone would support the bankruptcy court’s decision to revoke Armstrong’s pro hac vice admission. Armstrong’s self-serving testimony lacks support from the record in this case. The bankruptcy court found his explanations not credible and a “revisionist history.” This Panel agrees. Armstrong’s antics far exceeded the standard of “zealous advocacy” as he contends and exhibited a deliberate disdain for the bankruptcy court. Such conduct cannot be tolerated, and the bankruptcy court acted appropriately in acting to preserve the dignity and decorum of the courtroom. Indeed, the Panel believes that the bankruptcy court exercised considerable restraint when dealing with Armstrong’s unprofessional behavior and nothing in the record reveals an abuse of discretion. As the Sixth Circuit stated in D.H. Overmyer Co., the “judge’s reasoning for his decision is supported by the record and in accordance with well-settled legal principles. Therefore, it simply cannot be deemed an abuse of discretion.” D.H. Overmyer Co., 750 F.2d at 34.