Other News
Aggressive Actions Taken To Stop Disbarred Lawyer From Continuing To Practice
(Harrisburg, Pa.)— In early August of this year, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County a civil complaint, therein asking the Honorable Pamela Pryor Dembe, President Judge of that court, to enjoin a disbarred Philadelphia attorney from continuing to practice law. The last time ODC had to take such a drastic step to prevent a disbarred attorney from practicing law was 20 years ago.
Pennsylvania Deputy Chief Disciplinary Counsel Named Fellow of American Bar Foundation
(Philadelphia, Pa.) - Paul J. Burgoyne, Deputy Chief Disciplinary Counsel, has been named a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Disciplinary Board Of Pennsylvania Makes Address Change Process Easier For Attorneys
(Lemoyne, Pa.) - The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania announces an improvement in the way Pennsylvania attorneys submit address changes.
2008
Informational Video Produced For Disciplinary Board Of Pennsylvania Receives AVA Gold Award
(Lemoyne, Pa.) The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has been recognized for its informational video “Assuring the Citizen Access to the Commonwealth’s Legal System” with an Ava Gold Award. The video, produced and submitted by GK Visual, was selected among 2,200 entries in the 2008 international competition.
Disciplinary Board Of Pennsylvania Provides New Tool For Understanding Attorney Disciplinary System
(Lemoyne, Pa.) The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania recently released an informational video, posted on its Web site www.padb.us, entitled Assuring the Citizen Access to the Commonwealth’s Legal System. The video provides an overview of the Disciplinary Board and the activities that occur within the organization. It’s been designed to simplify what is a complex process, and to make it easy for both attorneys and consumers to understand the policies and procedures within the Disciplinary Board.
Supreme Court Adopts New Money Handling Guidelines
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania adopted a major revision of the Pennsylvania Rules regarding the handling of client funds by lawyers.
Annual Report 2007
The Disciplinary Board has issued its Annual Report for 2007-2008. It is posted at padb.us here.
Pa Disciplinary Board Member Elected as Pennsylvania Bar Association Treasurer Court Of Pennsylvania
(Lemoyne, Pa.) - The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania announced that one of the members of the Board was elected treasurer of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) in early June. Francis X. O'Connor, Esq., an attorney and sole practitioner from Great Bend, is a former member of the PBA Board of Governors, past chair of the PBA Membership Committee, and past president of the Conference of County Bar Leaders. Additionally, he is secretary/treasurer of the Susquehanna County Bar Association.
Annual Registration Statements to be Mailed
Annual Lawyer Assessment statement forms for 2008-2009 will be mailed sometime toward the middle of May.
2007
Lawyer Feels Obligation To Live By Rules
Smith B. "Bart" Gephart found his passion in the courtroom, so he takes it very seriously when lawyers stray from the rules. "I loved it," said Gephart, who was a founding partner of Killian and Gephart in Harrisburg. "All I ever wanted to do was be a trial lawyer." The Harrisburg-area native resigned his partnership about three years ago, but still keeps his old office at the firm on Pine Street. Gephart, who turns 80 on July 2, recently was appointed to a second term on the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, which reviews cases of lawyers accused of bad conduct.
Registration Forms Due July 1, 2007: Forms Now Online.
Annual registration/fee forms were mailed out May 11, 2007. Forms and payments are due July 1, 2007. Late fees will take effect once the Final Notices are sent to attorneys by certified mail. Late fees are $100.00, and $200.00 if not paid by the time the Board certifies the names of delinquent attorneys to the Supreme Court. Complete the form carefully; incomplete forms will be returned and late charges may be assessed if not returned in time.
Position Announcement: Disciplinary Counsel (Suburban Philadelphia)
The District II (Trooper) office is seeking an attorney and a receptionist for the position of Disciplinary Counsel. Position and application information is posted here.
Pennsylvania Lawyer Looks at Disciplinary Board
The January/February issue of the Pennsylvania Lawyer magazine, a publication of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, has two articles on the disciplinary system. "Passing Judgment," by Helen Roth Vanston, relates the author's experience and perspectives from her years of service on one of the Hearing Committees of the Disciplinary Board.
Justice Newman Announces Retirement
Justice Sandra Schutz Newman of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has announced she will retire from the bench effective January 1, 2007. Justice Newman was the first and is still the only woman elected to a full term on the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
2006
Disciplinary Board Offers To Help Solo Practitioners Better Understand Rules Of Professional Conduct
(Lemoyne, Pa.) - Consisting of more than 60 percent of the attorneys in the state, solo and small-firm practitioners make up the largest lawyer constituency in Pennsylvania. These attorneys face unique challenges in both the operation of their practice and adherence to the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct.
Attorneys Marc S. Raspanti And Raymond Wierciszewski Of The Pa. Disciplinary Board To Speak During "A Day On Health Law"
(Lemoyne, Pa.) - The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania announces that board member Marc S. Raspanti and Raymond Wierciszewski, the disciplinary counsel-in-charge of the Office of the Disciplinary Counsel's (ODC) District II office, will speak at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's (PBI) "A Day on Health Law" seminar on October 11, 2006 at the CLE Conference Center in Philadelphia. They will present "An Insider's Look at How the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Process Works: A Practitioner's Primer." The seminar is available via videoconference at the Koppers Building in Pittsburgh.
Newly Enhanced Web Site Better Educates Attorneys on the Rules of Professional Conduct
(Lemoyne, Pa.) - The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, an independent agency, announces the launch of its newly redesigned, user-friendly Web site, www.padb.us. The new design features easier navigation so both attorneys and consumers are able to efficiently access information.
New Web Site for Consumers to Research or Report Attorney Ethics Violations
(Lemoyne, Pa.) - The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania announces the launch of its newly designed, user-friendly Web site, www.padb.us. The new site incorporates easier navigation so both consumers and attorneys are able to more efficiently access information.
New Address for Pittsburgh Office
The District IV (Pittsburgh) office of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel has moved.
Disciplinary Board Submits Annual Report for 2005
The Disciplinary Board has filed its Annual Report for 2005 with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
Chief Justice Announces State of Commonwealth's Courts Report
The Honorable Ralph J. Cappy, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, has announced the release of the first State of the Commonwealth's Courts Report, 2006. The 12-page booklet addresses many of the challenges facing the judiciary, as well as solutions to enhance judicial administration through automation, innovation, education and intergovernmental collaboration. Several of the judiciary’s notable successes are also highlighted.
Attorney Registration Forms Mailed Out
Annual Attorney Registration forms were mailed out May 15. Printable and fillable versions of the form are available online here. As in previous years, the annual fee is $175.
Consumer Group Rates Pennsylvania Disciplinary System Nation's "Most Improved"
HALT, a nationwide advocacy group which has been highly critical of lawyers, rated Pennsylvania's disciplinary system the nation's "Most Improved" in its new 2006 survey of lawyer disciplinary systems. Pennsylvania had ranked 51st and last in the organization's 2002 survey, but HALT rated Pennsylvania's the 5th best system in the country in its 2006 survey.
Attorney Marc S. Raspanti To Speak At Health Law Institute
(Camp Hill, Pa.) - Marc S. Raspanti, a member of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania will speak at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's 12th Annual Health Law Institute on March 15 and 16 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. He will co-present "An Insider's Look at How the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Process Works: A Practitioner's Primer" with Raymond Wierciszewski, the disciplinary counsel-in-charge of the Office of the Disciplinary Council's (ODC) District Two office.
National Legal Reform Organization Recognizes PA Legal System For Policy
(Camp Hill, Pa.) - Written fee agreements can clearly and thoroughly describe how an attorney's fees will be determined. They can also explain the responsibilities and expectations of all parties as well as outline the details of the attorney-client relationship.
2005
PA Supreme Court Disciplinary Board Consumer Rights Information Now Available
(Camp Hill, PA) - A new brochure outlining the rights of consumers regarding the professional conduct of attorneys in Pennsylvania is now available to the public. The brochure, published by the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, is available at Pennsylvania county bar association offices statewide, as well as in the district offices of the Disciplinary Board.
Consumer Organization HALT Praises PA Fee Writing Rule
The consumer advocacy organization HALT (www.halt.org) has been very critical of the legal profession at large, and of Pennsylvania's disciplinary system in particular.
IOLTA Board Proposes Requiring Fees of Pro Hac Vice Applicants
The Pennsylvania Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts Board (IOLTA) has issued a proposal which would require out-of-state lawyers appearing pro hac vice (in a particular case by special admission) to pay the same fees required of lawyers licensed in Pennsylvania.
Disciplinary Board Launches Email Newsletter
The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has launched an electronic newsletter to inform and educate attorneys regarding activities and initiatives of the Disciplinary Board and to advance the highest standards of legal services for the citizens of Pennsylvania.
Temporary Limited Practice by Katrina-Displaced Lawyers
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has issued an order extending a temporary limited right to practice in Pennsylvania to lawyers from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama who were displaced from their offices by the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
Attorney E-Newsletter Provides Innovative Communications For The Disciplinary Board And Pennsylvania Attorneys
(Camp Hill, PA) - The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has launched an electronic newsletter to inform and educate attorneys regarding activities and initiatives of the Disciplinary Board and to advance the highest standards of legal services for the citizens of Pennsylvania.
Elaine Bixler Represents PA At National Lawyer Disciplinary Board Meeting
(Camp Hill, PA) - Elaine M. Bixler, Secretary of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, recently served as a moderator at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Council of Lawyer Disciplinary Boards (NCLDB) in Utah.
The Executive Director of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Shares His Thoughts on the Status and Future Direction of the Organization
Joe Farrell is no stranger to the workings of administrative organizations. Previous assignments as Deputy Executive Director of Administration and Enforcement for the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and as Manager of the Executive Office for Customer Advocacy at First Energy have provided a wealth of management and professional experiences for his task at the Disciplinary Board.
2004
Shed Light On Legal Discipline
(Camp Hill, PA) - Pennsylvania's system of lawyer discipline compares very favorably with those of other professions in the way it polices its ranks and guards against the unethical acts of relatively few members. Still, it is wise to periodically examine the system to ensure that it is meeting its goals. These are to protect the public, maintain the integrity of the legal profession, and safeguard the reputation of the courts.
PA Reviewing Joining 40 States With Open Lawyer Disciplinary System
(Camp Hill, PA) - The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a 16-member independent agency created by the Supreme Court which has complete oversight and investigative power to review the conduct of Pennsylvania lawyers, has proposed amendments to the established process of disciplinary proceedings. The traditional method of conducting inquiries and disciplinary procedures abides by a confidentiality rule.
Disciplinary Board Extends Comment Period
(Camp Hill, PA) - The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a 16-member independent agency created by the Supreme Court with complete oversight and investigative power to review the conduct of Pennsylvania lawyers, recently announced that it is considering a historic step to alter the traditional confidential nature of disciplinary proceedings in Pennsylvania.
Disciplinary Board Changes Hearing Committee Structures
The Disciplinary Board is proposing changes in the way the Hearing Committees who conduct hearings in disciplinary cases and review Disciplinary Counsel recommendations are assigned. Currently, all Hearing Committees are empanelled on a long-term basis with three lawyers who practice in the District in which the disciplinary case is brought, and the member of the Hearing Committee with the longest tenure in that role serves as its Chair.
2003
Superior Court Upholds Contempt Conviction of No-Show Lawyer
The Superior Court has upheld an adjudication of direct criminal contempt against a lawyer who had not withdrawn his appearance as counsel, but refused to appear at a custody mediation on a client's behalf, although court officials had called him and advised him he was expected to attend.
Lawyers Transferred to Inactive Status
60 out-of-state lawyers have been transferred to inactive status for failure to complete Continuing Legal Education requirements, by order of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, effective September 3, 2003. A listing of the affected lawyers may be found here.