can e-shame change lawyer conduct?
Does online infamy, or the fear of it, cause lawyers to improve their conduct? Can it spur
rehabilitation and deter unprofessional performance? Two items in the news this weekend
got me thinking about this topic:
- the Texas lawyer, Jesse Gamez, who failed to tell the court that his girlfriend
was on the jury in a Ford Rollover case (AP/Herald Democrat, “Ford hit with $28
million verdict in rollover lawsuit.”, March 3, 2005; David Berstein at VC; Steele at
LegalEthicsForum, March 6, 2005; Overlawyered, March 7, 2005), and
- two Pennsylvania lawyers, Joanne D. Sommer and Jay H. Karsch, who were scolded
by a judge for their very poor research (see law.com, “Judge Lectures Lawyers on
Research for Motion,” March 4, 2005; Law Dawg; Virtual Chase)
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