DISCIPLINARY BOARD
 
c/o John E. Fogarty Judicial Annex
24 Weybosset Street - 2nd Floor
Providence, RI  02903
(401) 222-3270 Telephone
(401) 222-1191 Facsimile


 

Complaint Form

Disciplinary Board Members

Frequently Asked Questions

Hearing Calendar

Rules of Procedure of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island

Rules of Professional Conduct

      The Disciplinary Board serves two important functions:  to protect the public and to maintain the integrity of the legal profession.  The Supreme Court appoints twelve members to the Board, eight of whom are attorneys and four of whom are members of the public.  In 2001, for the first time ever, Viola Wyman, a non-lawyer, was appointed as Chairperson of the Disciplinary Board.

      It is the goal of the board to process disciplinary complaints filed against Rhode Island attorneys as expeditiously and fairly as possible.  The board oversees the office of Disciplinary Counsel, which reviews and investigates all allegations of attorney misconduct.  When appropriate, the board authorizes the filing of formal charges against an attorney, and then conducts hearings and makes recommendations to the court for the imposition of discipline.  While disciplinary investigations are confidential, formal charges are heard in proceedings open to the public.  Notice of these hearings is posted in the Supreme Court Clerk's Office and on the website.

      The board may also petition the Supreme Court to place an attorney on inactive status if he or she becomes mentally or physically incapacitated.

      The Supreme Court Disciplinary Counsel is the investigative arm of the board.  Staff attorneys are easily accessible to the public, and any person who has a complaint about a Rhode Island lawyer may call the office and speak to a staff attorney prior to filing a complaint.  Each year, thousands of Rhode Islanders contact the office and receive information.  Staff attorneys can refer callers to other appropriate agencies, bring serious matters to the immediate attention of the board, and screen out those matters which do not allege any misconduct.  Staff attorneys cannot provide legal advice.

      The Disciplinary Board and Counsel also work with the members of the Rhode Island Bar to improve legal ethics in this state.  Staff attorneys are frequent presenters at continuing legal education seminars designed to inform attorneys of their ethical obligations to their clients and to the legal system.  The goal of the board is to reduce the number of complaints filed by increasing awareness of and compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct.

      The Office of Disciplinary Counsel investigated 301 complaints in 2001.  An additional 95 written complaints were not opened for formal investigation as the complaints did not fall within the office's jurisdiction and/or allege a violation of the applicable rules.  The office also received 61 notices of overdrafts on attorney trust accounts.  By agreement with the Supreme Court, financial institutions notify the Disciplinary Counsel when there has been an overdraft in a client's account maintained by attorneys.  In each instance, the attorney is required to provide a satisfactory explanation for the overdraft.  The overdraft notification rule acts as a significant deterrent against the misappropriation of client funds.