Opinion ID: 1179764
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Limits Upon Sua Sponte Consideration Of A Disciplinary Proceeding Concluded By The PRT Upon A Plea Bargain

Text: Another troubling question is how far the court should go in raising constitutional issues sua sponte when, as here, discipline is recommended on the basis of a plea bargain. [23] I would give the plea bargain a four-corners' examination for not more than a superficial conformity to fundamental law and public policy. I would withhold judicial approbation from but a narrow class of agreed dispositions  (a) those in which discipline is too lenient or too severe, (b) those where the disposition sought to be effected is facially fraught with some fatal fundamental-law flaw, or (c) those where the result would otherwise clearly contravene public policy. [24] I would be loath ever to upset a plea bargain by raising sua sponte some nonfacial fundamental-law infirmity in a case like this which tenders for imposition but a mild form of discipline.