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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 14, 2022 11:31 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Timothy J. O'Neal |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Disciplinary Board Transparency |
| In the near future, I will be introducing a resolution encouraging the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to make the investigation and disciplinary process of lawyers more transparent. The Pennsylvania Constitution gives the authority to regulate the practice of law and lawyers to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. As a result, our Supreme Court established the Disciplinary Board to regulate the conduct of attorneys. The Disciplinary Board’s stated mission is to protect the public, maintain the integrity of the legal profession and safeguard the reputation of the courts. Consequently, the Disciplinary Board has been given the authority to enforce and investigate disciplinary actions of lawyers who fail to abide by the established Rules of Professional Conduct. I was recently made aware that during the COVID-19 pandemic and Governor Tom Wolf’s subsequent executive orders, licensed attorneys, who were working as solicitors for school boards within Washington County, were not following proper legal protocols when providing legal advice and services to their clients. I have since found that this issue has occurred throughout the Commonwealth. I was concerned to discover the limited public transparency utilized by the Disciplinary Board in their investigations and discipline of lawyers such as these solicitors. My resolution will encourage the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to provide greater public transparency of the investigation, adjudication, and discipline of lawyers. Please join me in co-sponsoring in this important legislation. |
Introduced as HR231
Memo Updated: September 14, 2022 11:33 AM