Local Rule 2090-3: Attorney Discipline

Local Rule 2090-3 Attorney Discipline

(a) Standards of Conduct. In addition to applicable federal law, the rules of professional conduct adopted by this court are the Rules of Professional Conduct of the North Carolina State Bar adopted by the Supreme Court of North Carolina, as amended from time to time by that state court, except as otherwise provided by a specific rule of this court. Acts or omissions by an attorney practicing before this court that violate the rules of professional conduct adopted by this court shall constitute misconduct and shall be grounds for discipline, whether or not the act or omission occurred in the course of an attorney-client relationship.

(b) Disciplinary Enforcement. For misconduct, and after notice and an opportunity to be heard, any attorney practicing before this court may be suspended from practice in this court, reprimanded, or subjected to such other disciplinary action as the circumstances may warrant.

(c) Duty to Inform the Clerk of Court. Any attorney practicing before this court shall, upon being subjected to public discipline by any court or by the state bar of any state, promptly inform the Clerk of Court of such action.

(d) Attorney Appearances. Whenever an attorney appears in this court, the attorney shall be deemed to have conferred disciplinary jurisdiction upon this court for any alleged attorney misconduct arising in any proceeding in this court.

(e) Jurisdiction. Nothing contained in these Local Rules shall be construed to deny to this court such powers as are necessary for the court to maintain control over proceedings conducted before it, such as proceedings for contempt or other such sanctions under the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, these Local Rules, or other applicable law.