Opinion ID: 695598
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Impugning the Integrity of the Court

Text: 27 We begin by noting that, [O]nce a lawyer is admitted to the bar, although he does not surrender his freedom of expression, he must temper his criticisms in accordance with professional standards of conduct. Sandlin, 12 F.3d at 866. When levelled against a court, such criticisms must be viewed objectively rather than in the subjective context of what the critic allegedly intended. Id. at 867 (construing Washington local court rule in conjunction with Rule of Professional Conduct involving claim that lawyer defamed trial judge). 28 Under an objective reading of the letter and attachment, we cannot say that the communication impugns the integrity of the court. Significantly, no reference to any court, judge, or judicial officer appears or is even hinted at in the letter or attachment. Swan's criticism cannot be equated with an attack on the motivation or the integrity or the competence of the judge[ ]. In re Sawyer, 360 U.S. 622, 632, 79 S.Ct. 1376, 1381, 3 L.Ed.2d 1473 (1959). In addition, although the attachment impugns female lawyers and reveals a patently sexist attitude on the part of Swan, the cover letter indicates that Swan's criticism is directed primarily at Artson. [A] lawyer may criticize ... the prosecution, even to the extent of suggesting wrongdoing ... without by that token impugning the judiciary. Id. 29