Supreme Court on ethics issues: Not broken, no fix needed
The U.S. Supreme Court is speaking with one voice in response to recent criticism of the justices’ ethical practices: No need to fix what isn’t broken.
Ethics & Professional Responsibility
Articles
Roberts declines Senate request to testify on court ethics
Chief Justice John Roberts has declined a request from the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify at a hearing next week on ethical standards at the court, instead providing the panel with a statement of ethics reaffirmed by the court’s nine justices.
Sens. Warren, Markey: Supreme Court ethics changes critical
U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey called for changes to the Supreme Court — including the addition of four more members to the nine-member court — during a stop in Boston’s Copley Square on Monday.
Democratic senators urge chief justice to probe Thomas trips
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee called on U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to open an investigation into the undisclosed acceptance of luxury trips by Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife that were paid for by a Republican megadonor.
Stricter financial disclosure rules start for Supreme Court justices, federal judges
There are a new financial disclosure requirements that Supreme Court justices and federal judges must follow, with regulations going into effect last month.
Disciplinary Commission issues advisory opinion on navigating conflicts of interests for government workers
The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission issued a nonbinding advisory opinion Thursday discussing when a lawyer who is a current or former government worker should decline to accept a legal matter due to a conflict of interest.
Numerous Indiana lawmakers do private consulting. But who are they working for?
A little more than a month after Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston’s high-profile departure last year from a six-figure role at the College Board, the Republican leader quietly started his own private consulting firm, according to new financial disclosure records.
Ex-Indiana congressman Buyer convicted of illegal stock purchases
A former Indiana congressman and Persian Gulf War veteran was convicted Friday of insider trading charges after a two-week trial in which jurors rejected his testimony that he had acted innocently in his pursuit of stock market profits.
ABA provides guidance on ethic rules in multijurisdictional matters
The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has released guidance covering which jurisdiction’s ethics rules should apply to lawyers handling matters in more than one jurisdiction.
Common Cause Indiana offers CLE examining call for code of ethics at SCOTUS
The annual Good Government CLE hosted by Common Cause Indiana will focus on the U.S. Supreme Court and the push for the justices to adopt a code of ethics.
Split ABA ethics committee issues guidance on self-represented attorneys
A divided American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released a formal opinion Wednesday seeking to clarify the interpretation of a model rule about self-represented lawyers’ communications with represented parties in a case.
Cardoza-Jones: Ethical questions raised by the conduct of Indiana AG Rokita
Recently reported evidence suggests Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita may have violated the following Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct, according to Paula Cardoz-Jones.
IndyBar: Ethics: When Silence Is Not Golden: The BOOM SHAKALAKA Defense
This article was originally published in Indiana Lawyer in 2020. Our authors recognize that some references are dated; however, the content is continually relevant to practitioners and is being reprinted for those that missed it the first time.
Disciplinary Commission publishes advisory opinion on conflicts of interest
The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission has issued an advisory opinion focused on when attorneys must decline to represent a client or withdraw from a current representation due to a conflict of interest.
Grass: Supervising nonlawyer assistants: Lawyers’ duties
Here are three things to know about the requirement to directly supervise nonlawyers.
ABA provides guidance on client solicitation in new ethics opinion
The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has released guidance on lawyer solicitation of new clients via “live person-to-person contact.”
Bell and Grass: 3 things to know: Commenting on pending legal matters
Have you recently been hired on a case and know the media want to talk to you? Before you post a comment on social media or conduct an interview, you should stop and think of the potential ethical implications. Those implications are outlined in the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission’s recently issued Advisory Opinion 1-22, “Lawyers’ Public Comments on Pending Matters.”
Advisory opinions offered on statements made by judicial candidates, lawyers commenting on pending legal matters
The Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications and Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission have issued advisory opinions regarding statements targeted at opponents made by candidates running for judicial office and public statements made by lawyers regarding pending disputes, including on social media.
Former Adams Co. judge banned from judicial service for life following campaign-related misconduct
A former Adams County Drug Court judge has been banned from judicial service in Indiana for life after violating judicial conduct rules related to his failed 2020 reelection campaign.
Chief Justice Roberts reminds federal judiciary of ethical standards
In his year-end report, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts highlighted the need for “more rigorous” ethics training for the federal judiciary and possibly additional funding from Congress to prevent judges from presiding over cases in which they have a conflict of interest.