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Louisiana Attorney
Disciplinary Board |
As the 15th anniversary of the lawyer regulatory system, 2005 provided an opportunity for reflection
upon and consideration of the remarkable advances achieved by the Supreme Court in setting
and enforcing high ethical standards for Louisiana lawyers.
Louisiana’s lawyer regulatory system
was created on April 1, 1990.
The anniversary itself went largely
unnoticed and certainly without
fanfare. However, it remains an
important milestone in the state’s
history of national leadership in
the legal arena.
In 1990, Louisiana led the
nation becoming the first state to
adopt, virtually unchanged, the
ABA Model Rules for Lawyer
Disciplinary Enforcement. Since
then, states across the country
have, in many respects, followed
Louisiana’s lead by adopting
significant portions of the disciplinary
enforcement procedures which
have proven so vital to Louisiana’s
success.
During 2005, the Office of
Disciplinary Counsel (ODC)
continued its efforts to rigorously
enforce the Rules of Professional
Conduct, address traditional areas
of concern and explore emerging
ethical issues facing lawyers in the
21st century. During 2005 and as a
result of prosecutions initiated by
the ODC, the Court issued 9 permanent
disbarments, 4 disbarments,
approved 5 permanent resignations
in lieu of discipline, and imposed 52
orders of suspension.
The Office of Disciplinary
Counsel continues to be a source
of support to the Supreme Court in
the area of bar admissions, as the
scrutiny of applicants’ character
and fitness to engage in the practice
of law continues to grow. When
the Supreme Court’s Committee
on Bar Admissions determines that
additional inquiry is needed, the
Supreme Court routinely directs
the Office of Disciplinary Counsel
to thoroughly investigate the
background of those who seek
admission to the bar in Louisiana.
The Disciplinary Board serves as a
valuable resource to the Court as
it offers its insight and input into
changes to the Rules of Professional
Conduct and Supreme Court
Rule XIX.
The disciplinary system was
not immune from the difficulties
created by Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita. Nevertheless, within a week
of those storms, the Disciplinary
Board successfully relocated its
operations temporarily to Baton
Rouge, where its important work
resumed. Indeed, although the
Court was closed for a period following
Katrina, the disciplinary
system remained vigilant for those
who might take advantage of those
difficult times to engage in unethical
behavior. Throughout those
days, the Disciplinary Board and
the Office of Disciplinary Counsel
continued to function professionally
and efficiently.
Confidence in Louisiana’s
system of justice is critical to the
success of the state’s future, particularly
in the difficult days ahead.
The Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board and its Office of
Disciplinary Counsel continue to
demonstrate that such confidence
is well placed and will remain
strong.
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