By Jessica Dye
NEW YORK, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Federal courts in New York City
have adopted a rule requiring attorneys that have been
disbarred, suspended or censured to notify courts about the
disciplinary action.
The rule will become effective in the U.S. District Courts
for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York on Feb. 25,
according to an order filed Friday in Manhattan federal court by
Chief Judge Loretta Preska
The amendment, Joint Local Civil Rule 1.5(h), will compel an
attorney admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern
and Southern Districts to notify the court's clerk within 14
days of any cases in which a federal, state or territorial
court, agency or tribunal has disbarred, suspended or censured
him or her.
Douglas Palmer, clerk of the Eastern District, said the rule
was intended to serve as a "double check." Currently, the
Southern and Eastern district only rely on other jurisdictions
to inform them when an attorney has been disciplined, he said.
The same rule will apply to attorneys who have resigned
while under investigation for allegations of misconduct.
Attorneys disbarred, censured or suspended from practicing in
the Southern or Eastern Districts will also have to notify the
clerks of other federal, state or territorial courts where they
are admitted to practice within 14 days.
Attorneys who fail to comply with the rule could face a
range of disciplinary action, from a letter of warning or
reprimand to removal from the roll of attorneys admitted to that
court.
The rule was originally adopted by the Board of Judges of
the Southern District of New York on Nov. 27 and approved by the
Judicial Council of the 2nd Circuit.
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