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RULE 18-202.15. RESPONDING TO JUDICIAL AND ATTORNEY MISCONDUCT

West's Annotated Code of MarylandMaryland Rules

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Maryland Rules
Title 18. Judges and Judicial Appointees
Chapter 200. Maryland Code of Conduct for Judicial Appointees
Rules Governing the Performance of a Judicial Appointee's Duties [Rules 18-202.1 to 18-202.16]
MD Rules Judges, Rule 18-202.15
RULE 18-202.15. RESPONDING TO JUDICIAL AND ATTORNEY MISCONDUCT
Currentness
(a) A judicial appointee shall take or initiate appropriate corrective measures with respect to the unprofessional conduct of a judge, another judicial appointee, or an attorney.
(b) If other corrective measures are not appropriate or, if attempted, were not successful, a judicial appointee:
(1) shall inform the Commission on Judicial Disabilities of facts known to the judicial appointee that raise a substantial question as to a judge's fitness for office;
(2) shall inform the Attorney Grievance Commission of facts known to the judicial appointee that raise a substantial question as to an attorney's honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as an attorney in other respects; and
(3) shall inform the appointing authority of facts known to the judicial appointee that raise a substantial question as to another judicial appointee's fitness for the position.
(c) Acts of a judicial appointee required or permitted by sections (a) or (b) of this Rule shall be absolutely privileged.
COMMENT
[1] Permitting a judicial appointee to take “corrective” measures gives the judicial appointee a wide range of options to deal with unprofessional conduct. Appropriate corrective measures may include direct communication with the judge, attorney, or other judicial appointee who is believed to have committed the violation or other direct action if available. There may be instances of professional misconduct that would warrant a private admonition or referral to a bar association counseling service.
Source: This Rule is derived from former Rule 2.15 of Rule 16-814 (2016).

Credits

[Adopted June 6, 2016, eff. July 1, 2016.]
MD Judges, Rule 18-202.15, MD R JUDGES Rule 18-202.15
Current with amendments received through February 1, 2024. Some sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document