California Ethics Panel Tries Anew to Rein in Attorney’s Conduct

The California Supreme Court’s judicial ethics committee is asking the bench and public to weigh in on how officers of the court should respond to attorney misconduct, the latest effort to address complaints over failures to rein in delinquent lawyers.

Comments are due by Jan. 19 on the court’s Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions’ draft formal opinion that provides guidance on factors judges should consider when responding to apparent misconduct, assessing its nature and seriousness, deciding what corrective action is warranted, and determining whether mandatory reporting obligations exist.

The draft opinion doesn’t “discuss any new advice or obligations in California’s ...