You can go directly to the Report Card for any particular state by replacing
the “XX” in the following URL with the state’s two-letter abbreviation:
In its Introduction, HALT explains that the group “produced the 2006 Lawyer
Discipline Report Card to assess whether states have taken any meaningful
action to improve the lawyer discipline system since our last Report Card in
2002.”
“Unfortunately, few states showed any improvement, and many states’
systems actually saw their grades decline!
“Consumers today are still not adequately protected by state systems
that investigate only a fraction of cases, almost never impose sanctions,
attempt to intimidate and silence victims, hide misconduct behind a veil
of secrecy, and often take years to process cases,” stated HALT Associ-
ate Counsel Suzanne Blonder. “After years of ignored calls for reform by
our organization, the American Bar Association and ethics scholars around
the country, the situation is not getting any better.”
overall improvement. Three noteworthy exceptions, however, did shake up the grades.
Pennsylvania’s disciplinary body, which HALT rated as worst in the nation four years
ago, ascended to fifth in the nation in 2006, and was deemed Most Improved. “While
the system is far from perfect, Pennsylvania’s dedication to reform should be a model
to the rest of the nation,” stated HALT Associate Counsel Suzanne M. Blonder.
also changed significantly, but they both fell dramatically in
the rankings.
Another important improvement is the increased use and functionality of grievance
“While disciplinary bodies are not publicized in court-houses and local media
as much as they were four years ago, their online resources have dramatically
improved since 2002. Today, most disciplinary Web sites offer downloadable
complaint forms, information about upcoming hearings and clear explanations
about the disciplinary process - features that most states lacked four years ago.”
Connecticut ranked #1 and won as the Best Disciplinary Agency in the Nation Overall.
“Although Connecticut does not shine in any one category, the state, as a whole, offers
the most effective system of attorney discipline in the nation. The Statewide Bar Counsel’s
office is investigating more complaints and disciplining more attorneys than most states,
offering more complete information about its disciplinary process than the average jurisdiction,
and processing complaints faster than the vast majority of disciplinary bodies.”
Utah had the lowest ranking, coming in 51st with the only F (after a showing
Here are some other rankings:
Rounding out the Top Ten:
#2 Colorado: “Colorado’s ranking jumped from 13th to 2nd in the nation. The
Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel now processes complaints more promptly
and the system more widely publicizes case outcomes than it did four years ago.”
the top 10 received C+)
public participation; its worse [F] was for promptness.
Massachusetts fell from 1st to 17th. “Four years ago, HALT ranked Massa-
chusetts’ attorney discipline system as best in the nation. Since then, Massa-
chusetts’ system has stopped widely publicizing its system and has been
hamstrung by shameful delays in processing cases.”
The worst discipline systems:
From 40th to 44th: Oklahoma, Delaware, Iowa, Alaska, South Carolina,
California At 45th, California’s ranking dropped dramatically — from 12th
in the nation four years ago. “The state’s 2002 grade of C also fell, primarily
because California now only investigates a third of the complaints received.
In addition, the Bar’s automated telephone system has become more confusing,
preventing consumers from obtaining prompt answers to specific questions from
a staff member.”
From 46th through 48th: Arkansas, Alabama, Hawaii
#49: Montana ”Montana’s disciplinary system has changed less than any disci-
plinary body in the country, holding firm at an abysmal 49th in the nation overall.
The state’s system continues to withhold information and still threatens complain-
ants with criminal contempt charges if they choose to publicly disclose any infor-
mation about a disciplinary matter.”
North Carolina - got the only D in garnering its 50th spot. “North Carolina’s Grievance
Committee holds steady as the country’s second-worst attorney discipline system.
The state continues to withhold critical data about its handling of complaints against
lawyers and still fails to make its discipline system known to the public.”
Utah - got the only F, and is ranked the lowest, 51st place. “In four
years, Utah’s standing plummeted from 19th in the country to worst
attorney discipline body nationwide. The disciplinary system no longer
releases as much information to the public, utilizes procedures that
are biased in favor of lawyers, fails to mete out sufficient discipline and
lags behind most states in processing complaints”.
HALT graded lawyer discipline systems in six categories: Adequacy of Discipline,
Publicity and Responsiveness, Openness, Fairness, Public Participation, and
Promptness. Click here for brief summaries of the results in each category.
HALT Executive Director James Turner had this wrap-up of the Lawyer Discipline
situation in 2006:
“American legal consumers deserve a system that investigates promptly,
deliberates openly, and weeds out unethical or incompetent attorneys,”
stated Turner. “Until there is meaningful reform, the legal profession has
only itself to blame for the widespread public mistrust that mars every
attorney’s reputation.”
p.s. The f/k/a Gang has written plenty about our inadequate system of lawyer
(Schenectady, NY), June 22, 2003; and this page of the ethicalEsq archives.
afterthought (March 10, 2006): There’s a thoughtful post at Ben Cowgill on
9, 2006), on the obligation of mandatory bar associations (and, we add, all
bar counsel) to give attorney discipline top priority — which includes budgets
adequate to hire and keep excellent staff counsel.
her leg
swinging, swinging:
the test still incomplete
spelling test
the teacher’s
squeaky shoes
september morning
none of the students
has failed
