Rule 8.3 Reporting Professional Misconduct

If a lawyer finds out that another lawyer has broken the rules of conduct in a serious way, one that raises real doubts about whether that lawyer is honest or fit to practice law, the lawyer should report it to the proper authorities. The same idea applies to judges. If a lawyer learns that a judge has violated the rules that govern judicial behavior, and it raises real doubts about whether the judge should stay in office, the lawyer should report that too.

This rule is meant to help catch serious problems in the legal system before they cause more harm. It does not require lawyers to report every small mistake or disagreement. It only applies when the misconduct is serious enough to question someone's honesty or ability to do their job.

One important thing to know is that there is no punishment built into this rule if a lawyer fails to report misconduct. It encourages lawyers to speak up, but it does not create a direct penalty for staying silent.