Rules of Professional Conduct

Rule 8.3: Reporting Professional Misconduct

   (a) A lawyer who knows that another lawyer has committed a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct that raises a substantial question as to that lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects, shall inform the appropriate professional authority.
   (b) A lawyer who knows that a judge has committed a violation of applicable rules of judicial conduct that raises a substantial question as to the judge’s fitness for office shall inform the appropriate authority.
   (c) This rule does not require disclosure of information otherwise protected by Rule 1.6 or other law.
 
Comment

[1] Self-regulation of the legal profession requires that members of the profession initiate disciplinary investigation when they know of a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Lawyers have a similar obligation with respect to judicial misconduct. An apparently isolated violation may indicate a pattern of misconduct that only a disciplinary investigation can uncover. Reporting a violation is especially important where the victim is unlikely to discover the offense.

[2] A report about misconduct is not required where it would involve violation of Rule 1.6. However, a lawyer should encourage a client to consent to disclosure where prosecution would not substantially prejudice the client’s interests. Information that is a client confidence or secret under Rule 1.6 is “otherwise protected by Rule 1.6” within the meaning of Rule 8.3(c). Rule 1.6(c), (d), and (e) describe circumstances in which a lawyer may reveal information otherwise protected by Rule 1.6. In such circumstances, a lawyer may, but is not required to, make disclosures otherwise required by this rule.

[3] If a lawyer were obliged to report every violation of the Rules, the failure to report any violation would itself be a professional offense. Such a requirement existed in many jurisdictions but proved to be unenforceable. This rule limits the reporting obligation to those offenses that a self-regulating profession must vigorously endeavor to prevent. A measure of judgment is, therefore, required in complying with the provisions of this rule. The term “substantial” refers to the seriousness of the possible offense and not the quantum of evidence of which the lawyer is aware. A report should be made to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. A lawyer who believes that another lawyer has a significant problem of alcohol or other substance abuse which does not require reporting to Disciplinary Counsel under this rule, may nonetheless wish to report the perceived situation to the Lawyer Counseling Committee, operated by the D.C. Bar, which assists lawyers having such problems.

[4] The duty to report professional misconduct does not apply to a lawyer retained to represent a lawyer whose professional conduct is in question. Such a situation is governed by the Rules applicable to the client-lawyer relationship. Rule 1.6(c), (d), and (e) give a lawyer discretion to reveal information otherwise protected by Rule 1.6 in some circumstances, despite a client-lawyer relationship. If such circumstances exist, the lawyer may, but is not required, to reveal the information as part of a report of misconduct under this rule. The duty to report may also be limited by other law, including court rules or orders, protective orders, and laws restricting disclosure of grand jury or tax information.

[5] Rule 1.6(h) brings within the protections of Rule 1.6 certain types of information gained by lawyers participating in lawyer counseling programs of the D.C. Bar Lawyer Counseling Committee. To the extent information concerning violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct falls within the scope of Rule 1.6(h), a lawyer-counselor would not be required or permitted to inform the “appropriate professional authority” referred to in Rule 8.3. Where disclosure is permissive under Rule 1.6 (see paragraph 1.6(c), (d), and (e) for cases of permitted disclosures), discretion to disclose to the “appropriate professional authority” would also exist pursuant to paragraph 8.3(c). See also Comment to Rule 1.6, paragraphs [29], [30], and [31].