8.1 ("The duty imposed by this Rule extends to persons seeking admission to the bar as well as to lawyers. Click here to see if our office is in possession of your attorneys files. Respondent lied to the Board of Law Examiners to bypass a proper evaluation of his character and fitness because he felt the truth might have barred him from sitting for the bar exam. Simply to disbar Respondent without revoking his license rewards him for having lied successfully because a petition for reinstatement will not require him to submit a new application for admission to the Board of Law Examiners and take another bar examination. affiliation, race, color, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, or other non-merit These qualities may be examined as part of any request for reinstatement, and there appears little to be gained in making him sit for a test on non-character matters. Bulletin, Vol 45, No. The Disciplinary Board may consider as potential mitigation an expert's opinion establishing a causal connection between the misconduct and an underlying mental infirmity; Braun, at 895-96; however, some conduct is simply too egregious and requires disbarment to protect the integrity of the profession and judicial tribunals. Each of the appellate courts and 53, No. 39. detailed updates regarding county-by-county court operations and proceedings. Make your practice more effective and efficient with Casetexts legal research suite. Minimum Qualifications: PARTIES TO DISCIPLINE ON CONSENT 1. If you wish to seek employment as a Law Clerk for a Common Pleas judge, write directly to the judge of interest or contact the district court administrator. Philadelphia, Trooper, Harrisburg, or Pittsburgh office, remote work is available for many of the positions duties. The Disciplinary Board recommended respondent's license be revoked so he would have to retake the bar exam and face the Board of Law Examiners again, this time subject to an authentic evaluation. Pennsylvania an interview should request so in advance. (a)Chief Disciplinary Counsel. Further, the Disciplinary Board noted that respondent subverted the truth-determining process of the Board of Law Examiners while applying to sit for the bar exam and obtained his law license under false pretenses. This position is professional legal work Id. Candidates interested in applying for this position are requested to submit a written resume and cover letter in .PDF format The Pennsylvania Judiciary has provideddetailed updates regarding county-by-county court operations and proceedings.General information is also provided on ourFAQ page. "Truth is the cornerstone of the judicial system; a license to practice law requires allegiance and fidelity to truth." 208(g). . Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. WebThe Office of Disciplinary Counsel shall have the power and duty (pursuant to Enforcement Rule 207(b)): (1) To investigate all matters involving alleged misconduct 967; amended April 18, 2008, effective April 19, 2008, 38 Pa.B. "[M]indful of the serious nature of [r]espondent's misconduct in [providing] false information on his bar application in numerous areas in a calculated attempt to conceal misconduct as a medical doctor and related disciplinary action . Id. Contact Us. Conduct initial preliminary review of disciplinary complaints to recommend whether to dismiss the complaint or refer the. Ability to work effectively with supervisors and fellow employees. Conduct 1.7 requires attorneys to avoid conflicts of interest in the representation of multiple clients. We continue to monitor developments regarding the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on court operations. 0 The present locations of the district offices of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel for each such disciplinary district are: (1)District I Office Office of Disciplinary Counsel The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 1601 Market Street Suite 3320 Philadelphia, PA 19103-2337 (215-560-6296) (fax: 215-560-4528), (2)District II Office Office of Disciplinary Counsel The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Suite 170 820 Adams Avenue Trooper, PA 19403-2328 (610-650-8210) (fax: 610-650-8213), (3)District III Office Office of Disciplinary Counsel The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Judicial Center 601 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 5800 PO Box 62675 Harrisburg, PA 17106-2675 (717-772-8572) (fax: 717-772-7463), (4)District IV Office Office of Disciplinary Counsel The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Suite 1300, Frick Building 437 Grant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219-6002 (412-565-3173) (fax: 412-565-7620). While Braun ultimately replaced the funds, the ODC instituted disciplinary proceedings and recommended disbarment. The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania recruits, employs, and promotes the most qualified applicants without regard to their political Because respondent was untruthful to his treating psychiatrists during counseling sessions and treatment interviews, Drs. Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Eilberg, 497 Pa. 388, 441 A.2d 1193 (1982). changes effective through 52 Pa.B. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) is the branch of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania that See Renfroe, at 404 (accepting causal connection between misconduct during addiction but still mandating disbarment). (Word, video or audio submissions will not be accepted) noting position title to: Disciplinary Board Executive Offices Dr. Sadoff reviewed the results of the tests and the opinion of Dr. Kramer and ultimately agreed with Dr. Kramer's diagnosis. 404 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<08307DF2E913FC428ABE20778F4A0158>]/Index[389 30]/Info 388 0 R/Length 79/Prev 691399/Root 390 0 R/Size 419/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream That said, respondent's sins were not such as involved knowledge or legal abilities they were sins of character and truthfulness. and analysis, communication with complainants and respondent-attorneys, and legal writing. WebThe Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) is the branch of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania that investigates and prosecutes complaints of Instead, in determining the proper measure of discipline, which is not intended to be punitive in nature, we, In contrast, suspension is a withdrawal of the privilege for a defined period of time not to exceed five, Full title:OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL, Petitioner v. Akim Frederic CZMUS. For the reasons discussed below, we hold respondent's misconduct and continuous pattern of deceit and dishonesty warrants disbarment. N.T. Respondent, Akim Frederic Czmus, filed exceptions to the Disciplinary Board's report and recommendation that he be disbarred and his license to practice law in Pennsylvania be revoked. Skill in analyzing and drafting legal documents, legal instruments, and other work product. However, this Court undoubtedly has the inherent power to revoke a license granted in the first place under this Court's rules and authority. auditors, paralegals, or interns). WebDisciplinary Counsel conducts a preliminary review or inquiry. UJS hiring and employment policies and procedures are intended to conform to all applicable matter to trial counsel. %PDF-1.7 % Consideration is to be given to any mitigating factors that are present. A conflict of interest exists under Rule 1.7(a)(1) when the representation of one client is materially adverse to the interests of another client or where there is a significant risk that the representation of one client will be materially limited by the lawyer's responsibilities to another client as proscribed by Rule 1.7(a)(2). I further agree with the reasoning of the Majority in support of this decision. Report and Recommendation of the Disciplinary Board, 3/8/04, at 18. Knowledge of state and federal laws, particularly in regard to disciplinary administration. By order of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the general statewide judicial emergency declared and maintained in previous Court Orders of March 16, March 18, March 24, April 1 and April 28 ceased as of June 1, 2020. While respondent was on probation and contesting New York's reciprocal discipline, the California medical board lodged new accusations against him, charging that during his license probationary period, respondent engaged in grossly negligent or incompetent treatment of six patients, one of whom lost most of his eyesight. Casetext, Inc. and Casetext are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. Graduation from an approved school of law, PLUS progressively responsible experience in professional legal work. Possession of a certificate of admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, or eligibility for such certification. There are a number of disciplinary cases involving simple assaults. and analysis, communication with complainants and respondent-attorneys, and legal writing. Did the respondent violate the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct? Although the Hearing Committee found this pattern of deceit disturbing, it held Braun obligated only a sanction of suspension. This Court determined that Braun established a sufficient causal connection between his psychiatric disorder and the underlying professional misconduct, and the "[p]sychiatric disorder [was] an appropriate consideration as a mitigating factor in a disciplinary proceeding. auditors, paralegals, or interns). Chief Justice CAPPY and Justices NIGRO and SAYLOR join the opinion. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare. No statutes or acts will be found at this website. May utilize the assistance of staff (e.g. Review docket entries, pleadings, and other documents relevant to assigned files. . Eventually, respondent conceded at the hearing he made the above misrepresentations because he had spent three years in law school and was afraid if he revealed his past and was denied permission to sit for the bar exam, he would lose those three years of his life. Justice NEWMAN files a concurring and dissenting opinion in which Justices CASTILLE and BAER join. Dr. Sadoff also testified and endorsed Dr. Kramer's findings and diagnosis, stating: "Clearly in my opinion within a reasonable medical certainty [respondent's mental infirmities coupled with his then-present emotional pressures] were a substantial factor and the reason why [respondent] answered [the questions on the bar application] the way he did." Casetext, Inc. and Casetext are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. About eight months later, respondent amended his answer, correcting some of the falsehoods but still fabricating some of his history. Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Kanuck, 535 A.2d 69, 76 (Pa. 1987) (holding that where the attorney did not intend to embezzle his clients' funds and made restitution in every instance, a five year suspension was appropriate sanction). (1/4) 27 Feb 2023 13:35:28 DB.jobopenings@pacourts.us (OR) PO Box 62625. . However, I respectfully dissent from the portion of the Opinion that declines to follow the recommendation of the Disciplinary Board to revoke the license of Respondent to practice law. Dr. Sadoff also referred respondent to Dr. Gerald Cooke, a neurophysiologist, who performed a series of psychological tests. Part or full time depending on language demand. WebThe Office of Disciplinary Counsel may obtain the client files of an attorney who has abandoned his or her practice. The following year, the New York medical licensing board initiated a reciprocal disciplinary proceeding. Don't Miss Important Points of Law with BARBRI Outlines (Login Required). 2021), alloc. This stipulation was accepted by California's medical licensing board. Respondent conceded he made errors on the application, but attributed them to confusion; he alleged he thought he was to list only undergraduate schools and degrees, and claimed he did not list his medical disciplinary proceedings because he thought each had been dismissed and administratively expunged. In 1992, while respondent was finalizing his medical license debacles, he was accepted at Temple University School of Law. Bulletin, Vol 49, No. Jun 2021 - Present1 year 10 months. %%EOF Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc, Disciplinary Counsel, Central Intake - Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of PA. Get alerts to jobs like this, to your inbox. Richard Hernandez, Philadelphia, for Office of Disciplinary Counsel. Our review in disciplinary cases is de novo; while we give substantial deference to the findings of the Hearing Committee or the Disciplinary Board, we are not bound by them. hb```c``z o @1VX_tYs0ia0,,MM;xiL(b^Ih/>t*gf/<1G0v-O'z'~?6-s[7L^aPI!C7QyGwx*YP0(:'(X 115 0 obj <> endobj Description: September 28, 2019, Pennsylvania Code (Rules and Regulations), Title 204 - JUDICIAL SYSTEM GENERAL PROVISIONS, Subpart C - DISCIPLINARY BOARD OF THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA, Chapter 93 - ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION, Subchapter D - OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL, 204 Pa. Code 93.63 - Powers and duties of Office of Disciplinary Counsel. Applicants who need accommodation for State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. remain in compliance with such laws. No statutes or acts will be found at this website. Current Maximum Salary: $129,938 In 1995, respondent submitted applications to sit for the Pennsylvania and New Jersey bar examinations. matter to trial counsel. Agency Chief Counsel. Petitioner, whose principal office is now located at Suite 400, Union Trust Building, 501 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is invested, pursuant to Rule 207 of the 389 0 obj <> endobj WebAre you a PA attorney interested in becoming a Hearing Committee Member with the Disciplinary Board? A day before his hearing was to begin, respondent endorsed a Joint Stipulation of Law and Facts admitting all the factual averments contained in the disciplinary complaint, and conceded: "[a]s a result of his conduct, as set forth above, [r]espondent violated RPC 8.1(a), RPC 8.4(b), RPC 8.4(c) and RPC 8.4(d)." 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