ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE
Jurisdiction of Appellate Division
Attorney Grievance Plan
Commencement of Formal Proceedings
Responding to Formal Charges
Answer
Appearance Before Court
Proceedings in Appellate Division
Denial of Charges
Admission of Charges
Requests for Adjournments
Appearance Following Hearing
Motions
Oral Argument
2012 Scheduled Return Dates
Decisions
Resignation From Practice
Reinstatement
Diversion Rule
Jurisdiction of Appellate Division
The authority to discipline attorneys is vested exclusively in the Appellate Division (Judiciary Law § 90 [2]).
The Court has, by rule, appointed Attorney Grievance Committees for each of the three judicial districts in the Fourth Department and has authorized the Committees to investigate allegations of misconduct by attorneys engaged in the practice of law in the Fourth Department (22 NYCRR 1022.19)
Commencement of Formal Proceedings
When the Attorney Grievance Committee has determined that there is probable cause to believe that an attorney has committed professional
misconduct, a formal proceeding is commenced.
In order to commence a proceeding, Chief Counsel is required to file an original notice of petition, a
petition, five copies thereof and proof of service on the attorney who is the subject of the proceeding. The petition must be made returnable at 2:00 p.m. on the
second Tuesday of the next scheduled term of Court. The petition must be filed at least 20 days prior to the commencement of the court term when it is returnable
(22 NYCRR 1022.20 [a], [c]).
The respondent attorney must file a verified answer, five copies thereof and proof of service on counsel for the Attorney Grievance Committee within 20 days of service of the petition. The answer must contain, with respect to each paragraph of the petition, specific admissions or denials (CPLR 3020; 22 NYCRR 1022.20 [c][2], [3]).
The respondent attorney must personally appear before the Court on the return date of the petition and on any adjourned date unless otherwise directed by the Court. Failure to appear or to file a verified answer in response to the petition constitutes a default and may result in suspension. (22 NYCRR 1022.20 [b] [2])
When a respondent, in the answer, denies material allegations of the petition, the Court may dispense with the required appearance and refer the matter for a hearing (22 NYCRR 1022.20 [d] [1]) or may direct the attorney to appear to clarify the status of the pleadings. If the matter is referred for a hearing, a copy of the order of reference is sent to the parties.
When a respondent, in the answer, admits the factual allegations of the petition, the Court will schedule an appearance for the respondent to be heard in mitigation of the charges. A scheduling letter is sent to the parties with dates for the filing of papers. The respondent attorney may waive in writing the opportunity to appear (22 NYCRR 1022.20 [d] [2]).
Once a proceeding has been commenced in the Appellate Division, only the Court may adjourn the matter. Requests for adjournments must be made in advance of the scheduled appearance, in writing, directed to the Presiding Justice with a copy to counsel for the Attorney Grievance Committee. Court staff will notify the parties regarding the Court’s determination.
Following the completion of a hearing and the filing of a report by a referee, the Court will schedule an appearance for the argument of motions by the parties and to afford the respondent attorney an opportunity to be heard in mitigation. The respondent attorney may waive in writing the opportunity to appear (22 NYCRR 1022.20 [d] [2]).
The Court permits oral argument of: motions directed to a referee’s report (motions to confirm, disaffirm, or dismiss charges); motions for immediate
suspension; or motions for orders punishing attorneys for contempt. Oral argument is not permitted on any other type of motion unless otherwise directed by the Court.
The Court requires that the moving party file the original motion papers, five copies thereof and proof of service on counsel for the opposing party. Motions
shall be made returnable during a term of Court on the date scheduled for the Court to hear disciplinary matters. Motions shall be served with sufficient notice to all
parties, as set forth in the CPLR and the rules of the Court (22 NYCRR 1000.13 [a] [2]). Responding papers are due on the Friday before the return date.
A respondent attorney who is scheduled to appear before the Court in a disciplinary proceeding shall sign in with the Clerk’s Office prior to 2:00 p.m.
on the day of the scheduled appearance or prior to the time designated by the Court for the appearance.
Disciplinary proceedings are conducted in the courtroom before
a panel of five justices. Because the proceedings are confidential by statute (Judiciary Law § 90 [10]), the proceedings are conducted in a closed courtroom and only parties,
counsel to parties and certain members of the Court’s staff are permitted to be present.
2012 Scheduled Return Dates
Attorney Disciplinary Matters
January 24, 2012
February 28, 2012
April 3, 2012
May 22, 2012
June 19, 2012
September 11, 2012
October 23, 2012
December 4, 2012
In the event that disciplinary charges against a respondent attorney are sustained, the decision is public and will be posted on the website maintained by the Court at 3:00 p.m. on a scheduled decision release date. Orders determining disciplinary matters are mailed to the parties.
An attorney who is the subject of a disciplinary investigation or proceeding may submit to the Court an affidavit or affirmation of resignation in the form set forth
in the Court’s rule (22 NYCRR 1022.28, Appendix A), along with proof of service on counsel for the Attorney Grievance Committee.
In the event that the Court determines that the resignation complies with the rule, a public order will be entered accepting the resignation, striking the name of the
attorney from the roll of attorneys, and, when restitution is owed, directing the payment of restitution.
Attorneys disbarred for misconduct or stricken from the roll pursuant to resignation or conviction of a felony, and attorneys suspended from the practice
of law for misconduct, may apply for reinstatement to practice in accordance with Rule 1022.28 (22 NYCRR 1022.28). Disbarred attorneys may apply for reinstatement after the expiration
of seven years from the entry of the order of disbarment; suspended attorneys may apply for reinstatement after the expiration of the period of suspension.
An application for
reinstatement shall be made by motion and served with sufficient notice to all parties as set forth in the CPLR and rules of the Court (22 NYCRR 1000.13 [a] [2]). Necessary papers in support
of an application for reinstatement are listed in Rule 1022.28 (22 NYCRR 1022.28) and must include a completed petition in the form included in Appendix A of the Court’s rule and a copy of a
letter to the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection notifying the Fund that the application has been filed. An applicant for reinstatement must file the original application, five copies thereof
and proof of service of one copy of the application on counsel for the Attorney Grievance Committee.
Attorneys applying for reinstatement following disbarment or suspension from
practice for a period in excess of six months, are required to appear before the Court on the return date of the application. Attorneys suspended for a period of six months or less shall not
be required to appear unless otherwise directed by the Court and are not required to file in support of the application for reinstatement a completed petition in the form set forth in Appendix A,
22 NYCRR 1022.28, unless directed to do so by the Court.
Attorneys removed from the roll of attorneys after voluntary resignation may apply for reinstatement at any time upon a showing
of changed circumstances and payment of registration fees outstanding at the time of the resignation and that accrued between entry of the order removing the attorney’s name from the roll and the
filing of the application for reinstatement. Attorneys removed from the roll for a period of one year or more are required to appear before the Court on the return
date of the application. Necessary papers in support of the application include: a copy of the order removing the attorney from the roll; the Per Curiam Opinion of the
Court, if any; proof of service of one copy of the application on counsel for the Attorney Grievance Committee; a copy of a letter to the Lawyers’ Fund for Client
Protection notifying the fund that the application has been filed; and, a copy of a completed questionnaire in the form included in Appendix A, if directed by the Court
(22 NYCRR 1022.28 [d]).
When an attorney who is the subject of a disciplinary investigation or proceeding raises in defense of the charges or as a mitigating factor alcohol or
substance abuse, or, upon the recommendation of counsel to the Attorney Grievance Committee, the Court may stay the matter under investigation or the
proceeding and direct that the attorney complete a monitoring program sponsored by an approved lawyers’ assistance program (22 NYCRR 1022.20 [d] [3] [a]).
Upon proof of successful completion of a Court-ordered monitoring program, the Court may dismiss the charges. In the event of failure to successfully complete
such a program or the commission of additional misconduct during the pendency of the proceeding, the Court may rescind the order diverting the attorney to a
monitoring program and reinstate the charges or matter under investigation (see 22 NYCRR 1022.20 [d] [3] [b]).