Opinion ID: 1365800
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Lawyer must respond to Demands for Information regarding Disciplinary Matters

Text: By letter dated March 7, 1996, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel asked the respondent to provide information in support of his motion to recuse the circuit judge. This request for information was sent in response to an ethics complaint. The respondent did not respond to the letter. A second letter, dated June 7, 1997, again asked the respondent to provide information to support his statements. Again, the respondent did not reply. The Board asserts that the respondent's failure to reply to requests for information regarding an ethics complaint violated Rule 8.1(b), that states, in part: ... [A] lawyer ... in connection with a disciplinary matter, shall not: ... (b) ... knowingly fail to respond to a lawful demand for information from an admissions or disciplinary authority, except that this rule does not require disclosure of information otherwise protected by Rule 1.6.