Latest posts tagged with #LegalEthics on Bluesky
Watching this judge melt down on camera is unreal. Retaliating against attorneys, berating staff, refusing to review evidence?! This is not what justice looks like! Accountability isn’t optional for people in power. #JudicialMisconduct #Accountability #PublicTrust #LegalEthics
At Tuesday’s news conference, …#ToddBlanche said little about how he might lead differently than Bondi. But his public appearance signaled that he would remain close to #Trump & use his role to carry out his agenda.
Blanche brushed off criticism the #DOJ has faced for going after Trump’s foes […]
#Trump tapped #ToddBlanche — his former [losing] defense attorney who has been serving as the #DOJ’s deputy attorney general — to succeed Attorney General #PamBondi after he fired her last week. Trump gave no public explanation for why he ousted Bondi, but it was reported that Trump was […]
“We have thousands of ongoing investigations & prosecutions going on in this country right now, & it is true that some of them involve men, women & entities that the president in the past has had issues with & that he believes should be investigated,” #ToddBlanche told reporters at the #DOJ’s […]
In his first news conference as the nation’s most powerful law enforcement official, acting attorney general #ToddBlanche defended the #DOJ’s repeated attempts to indict #Trump’s political enemies & asserted that the president has a duty to speak out about who he believes should be investigated […]
JFC this is outrageous
Acting AG says #Trump has ‘duty’ to identify people who should be investigated
#ToddBlanche, who is leading the #DOJ after Pam Bondi’s ouster, defended investigations of Trump’s political foes.
#law #LegalEthics […]
No party or authorized recipient may input, upload, or submit CONFIDENTIAL Information into any modern artificial intelligence platform, including any generative, analytical, or large language model-based tool (“AI”), unless the AI provider is contractually prohibited from: (1) storing or using inputs to train or improve its model; and (2) disclosing inputs to any third party except where such disclosure is essential to facilitating delivery of the service. Where disclosure to a third party is essential to service delivery, any such third party shall be bound by obligations no less protective than those required by this Order. In addition, the AI provider must contractually afford the party or authorized recipient the ability to remove or delete all CONFIDENTIAL information upon request. A party intending to use AI that it contends meets these requirements must retain written documentation of these contractual protections.
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Can a pro se party’s #AI use be protected by the work product doctrine?
In a CO employment dispute, the parties got into a discovery dispute over the use of #AI. The defendant wanted the pro se plaintiff to reveal what kind of ... (cont.)
lnkd.in/eGsk_b6i
#law #lawsky
Image of man and woman at desk being handed paper by hands at the other side of desk by RDNE Stock Project
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Can I get an advisory ruling from the court on whether hiring a new associate will create a conflict of interest?
In a MT putative class action case, the lead plaintiff’s counsel wanted to hire a lateral partner who, while at another ... (cont.)
lnkd.in/e3dpaumn
#law #lawsky
man looking upset at woman who is holding cash. Image by Mikhail Nilov via Pexels
#LegalEthics Tidbit: What should I do if one client claims entitlement to another client’s funds?
A mom and her minor daughter were both injured in a car accident and a RI attorney represented them in their claims against the other driver ... (cont.)
lnkd.in/ey_zsqRZ
#law #lawsky
Woman with finger to mouth to 'shhh' gesture. Image by Gustavo Fring via Pexels
#LegalEthics: If I get an order to show cause that asks whether I used #AI, can I refuse to respond because my legal research is work product?
Two TN attorneys submitted briefs to the 6th Cir. with over two dozen fake citations and misrepresentations of the...(cont.)
lnkd.in/eEe55g8Y
#law #lawsky
To: Office of Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice Date: March 31, 2026 Re: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – Amendments to 28 C.F.R. Part 77 (Professional Conduct of DOJ Attorneys) Dear Sir or Madam: We submit these comments on behalf of Women Lawyers On Guard Action Network, Inc. (“WLGAN”), a national organization dedicated to advancing democratic values and promoting ethical legal practice in matters affecting public health, safety, and the rule of law. As an organization composed primarily of lawyers, we recognize that a just and fair society depends on all lawyers—including those who represent the government— adhering to the highest ethical standards. Over the last ten years, WLGAN has focused on promoting ethical legal practice in areas including professional misconduct in the legal profession, women’s health and reproductive rights, gender and pay equity, and adherence to the rule of law. On March 5, 2026, the Department of Justice (“DOJ” or “Department”) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled Review of State Bar Complaints and Allegations Against Department of Justice Attorneys. The stated rationale—preventing duplicative or politically motivated investigations—has generated widespread and bipartisan opposition. The breadth and consistency of that opposition reflect serious concerns about the rule’s implications for attorney accountability and public trust. WLGAN shares these concerns and strongly opposes the proposed rule. Under the proposed rule, the Department would assert authority to review bar complaints against current or former DOJ attorneys before those attorneys are permitted to participate in state disciplinary proceedings related to their conduct in federal proceedings. The Department could also request that state disciplinary authorities suspend parallel investigations pending completion of the Department’s internal review. Even more problematic is that the rule purportedly authorizes the Department to seek suspension of ongoing s…
which DOJ attorneys effectively police themselves. Courts have repeatedly recognized, however, that attorney discipline is a core state function essential to preserving public confidence in the legal system. See Middlesex County Ethics Comm. v. Garden State Bar Ass’n, 457 U.S. 423, 434 (1982); Leis v. Flynt, 439 U.S. 438, 442 (1979). Federal intrusion into attorney discipline requires a clear statement from Congress because this is an area of traditional state concern. See Gregory v. Ashcroft, 501 U.S. 452, 460–61 (1991). Congress has never sought to interfere with this core state function. The proposed rule also elevates the Department’s internal oversight mechanisms over independent state disciplinary authority, allowing DOJ attorneys to be judged by offices that lack structural independence from DOJ leadership. The Office of Professional Responsibility, the Office of the Inspector General, and the Professional Misconduct Review Unit all operate under the Department’s control. Concentrating investigatory and adjudicatory authority within the same institution whose attorneys are under scrutiny creates an inherent conflict of interest and makes delay, minimization, or non-enforcement of serious allegations a predictable outcome. An agency cannot lawfully evade enforcement by designing a process that permits indefinite inaction—particularly where, as here, the agency is regulating its own employees. The Department’s reliance on so-called “rogue” bar complaints to justify this rule further underscores its defects. The rule does not define “rogue,” leaving the term dangerously broad and entirely subjective; and ignores the extensive process followed in such matters. In practice, it would permit the Department to classify disfavored complaints as improper simply because they arise from controversial cases, challenge litigation positions, or involve high-profile matters—none of which renders a complaint unethical under state professional conduct rules. This vagueness ris…
risks such as self-protective bias, resource constraints, or institutional reluctance to pursue internal discipline. See Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass’n v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 463 U.S. 29, 43 (1983). In practice, the rule risks creating a de facto safe harbor in which complaints against DOJ attorneys are never fully investigated or adjudicated, which will erode public confidence in the integrity of federal law enforcement and other actions by the Department. Existing state bar disciplinary systems already include well-established mechanisms to screen out frivolous or abusive complaints and to manage investigations responsibly. The Department has not demonstrated that these systems are inadequate or that extraordinary federal intervention is necessary. Instead, the proposed rule would displace independent state judgment without articulating a reasoned basis for doing so or considering obvious alternatives. The proposed rule also raises serious due process concerns for complainants, state disciplinary authorities, and the public. By conditioning state bar proceedings on an undefined, open-ended Department “review,” the rule deprives interested parties of fair notice, predictable procedures, and meaningful timelines. Neither the rule nor the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking specifies objective standards governing when a complaint may be deemed “rogue,” how long Department review may last, or what procedural protections apply during that review. This standardless discretion invites arbitrary decision-making and fails to provide the minimal procedural safeguards. Where, as here, the Department’s decision to delay or withhold review can foreclose or indefinitely postpone state disciplinary proceedings, due process requires clear standards and enforceable limits. Their absence permits the Department to function as both gatekeeper and interested party, heightening the risk of biased or inconsistent outcomes and undermining confidence in the integrity of the disciplinary …
For these reasons, the proposed rule must be withdrawn. We strongly believe that lawyer disciplinary processes must preserve the primacy of state disciplinary authorities and ensure that ultimate disciplinary authority remains with independent bodies. DOJ leadership cannot be permitted to police itself. No lawyer—and certainly no lawyer wielding the power of the federal government— should be above the law. Respectfully submitted, Corrine Parver, Esq. President, Women Lawyers On Guard Action Network, Inc. Elaine Metlin, Esq. Vice President of Advocacy, Women Lawyers On Guard Action Network, Inc.
You only have 2 days left to submit comments in opposition to DOJ's rule changing how state bars can investigate alleged ethics violations by DOJ attys.
Grab inspiration from our comments below but submit your own by Monday 4/06 at: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
#LegalEthics
The comment deadline is Monday April 6!
We urge you to submit your own original comment—not just copy and paste ours.
Individual voices help show the depth of public concern.
Submit here: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
#lawtwitter #SkyLaw #AppellateSky #RuleOfLaw #LegalEthics
2/2
#LegalEthics: If I’m the first person sanctioned by a court for #AI misuse, should I get some leniency?
In Sept. 2024, an attorney submitted a brief to the Third Circuit that contained fabricated citations the lawyer got from his client, …(cont)
www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/242...
#law #lawsky
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Can my lawyer disclose my sexual orientation to the jury without consulting me first?
An IN man was accused of sexually assaulting an underage male. Prior to trial, the man informed his counsel that he was gay… (cont.)
public.courts.in.gov/Decisions/ap...
#Law #lawsky
She is bad, #Blanche is far worse.
#Trump fired AG #PamBondi, acc/to a person familiar, removing the nation’s top law enforcement officer as his frustration with her job performance deepened. Trump has been souring on Bondi for months, especially because of her handling of the #EpsteinFiles […]
#LegalEthics Tidbit: If you are going to let #AI draft your brief, aren’t you sort of eliminating your own job?
An IN attorney submitted a brief with a half a dozen or so citations fabricated by #AI. He indicated that he turned to AI...(cont.)
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
#law #lawsky
"Guy Incognito" from the Simpsons
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Can a patent lawyer disguise himself as a customer and order an infringing product to establish personal jurisdiction over an infringer?
A WI patent lawyer representing a plaintiff purchased defendant’s product and then submitted a ... (cont.)
lnkd.in/eA5WagZg
#law #lawsky
Equal rules for every lawyer. No exceptions.
A DOJ proposal could block timely state ethics investigations of its own attorneys.
That weakens accountability.
Submit a comment before April 6: ldad.org/letters-brie...
georgialawyersfortheruleoflaw.org/legal-ethics...
#LegalEthics #Accountability
Image by Cottonbro Studio via Pexels. Three pieces of Matzoh stacked.
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Do I need to run a conflict check at my #Passover seder?
A man attended a Passover seder and took the opportunity to seek some free legal advice from his host’s daughter, a NY lawyer. Four years later, other lawyers at the NY lawyer’s ... (cont.)
lnkd.in/eEQnj7qi
#law #lawsky
Man holding gun looking at camera. Image by Kindel Media via Pexels
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Can I get suspended if my #AprilFools joke involves loaded guns?
A DE prosecutor wanted to play a practical joke on a colleague, who had often teased the prosecutor about his aversion to the smell of hardboiled eggs. After persistent ... (cont.)
lnkd.in/eKYg7Wuz
#law #lawsky
Since taking office, #Trump has dismissed or demoted more than 20 inspectors general, sharply undermining the ability of the offices to act as a check on #misconduct [as Trump planned]. According to a congressional report, in the 2024 fiscal year alone, the inspectors general fired by Trump […]
The #DOJ’s internal watchdog has seemingly ignored 20 instances of possible wrongdoing by the #Trump admin, lawyers for a #whistleblower said in a letter on Monday urging lawmakers to address the “apparent collapse” of an office meant to root out #misconduct.
The lawyers pointed to the case of […]
#DOJ Watchdog Has Gone Silent, Lawyers for #WhistleBlower Say
Lawyers for a fired Justice Department lawyer say the agency’s #InspectorGeneral appears to have ignored at least 20 different requests to scrutinize #misconduct.
#Trump #law #LegalEthics […]
As the St. Joseph County Election Board grapples with a potential conflict of interest over its legal representation, tensions rise amid calls for transparency and accountability.
Read the full story
#JosephCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #LegalEthics #CivicTransparency #StJosephCountyElections
Image by Mizuno K via Pexels. Woman looking over man's shoulder while he works on laptop.
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Do I have a duty to supervise my bookkeeper if my law partner seems to be on top of it?
Lawyer A and Lawyer B formed a two-person firm in FL. On the advice of Lawyer B’s husband, they hired a bookkeeper whose background check came back... (cont.)
lnkd.in/eGSz5dtb
#law #lawsky
Table of a portion of the fake citations from the judge's opinion.
#LegalEthics Tidbit: If I didn’t know that my brief contained citations fabricated by #AI, did I commit a “knowing” ethical violation?
A NE divorce lawyer submitted an appellate brief to the Court of Appeals that contained over a dozen fake citations and ... (cont.)
lnkd.in/ejqTC-9C
#law #lawsky
𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 Justia Webinar on April 14, 2026 at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET. Register today: j.st/5d2v! Review ethical duties surrounding reporting misconduct, supervisory responsibilities, and the real consequences of “looking the other way” in the legal profession.
#LegalEthics #AttorneyWellness
The Department of Justice proposed a rule change that would allow its attorneys to bypass state ethics rules, potentially hindering accountability and promoting political goals.
More stories at resist47.news
#resist47 #DoJEthics #TrumpAdministration #AttorneyAccountability #LegalEthics
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Is it unethical for the judge to start a hearing earlier than it was scheduled?
A LA judge presiding over a second-degree murder trial directed everyone to return at 9:00 am the next morning for closing arguments. ... (cont.)
www.lasc.org/Opinions?p=2...
#law #lawsky
Image of woman showing laptop screen to man at the other end of a desk, by RDNE Stock Project via Pexels
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Make sure the lawyer whose brief you are plagiarizing wasn’t already sanctioned for #AI misuse.
A NY lawyer representing an architectural firm in a suit over a house collapse asserted over thirty affirmative defenses. The house owners’ ... (cont.)
lnkd.in/eZmsAxnu
#law #lawsky
