A. Initiation of Disciplinary Proceedings
1. Any Article III, Magistrate, or Bankruptcy judge of this District may take action to initiate
attorney disciplinary proceedings in accordance with this rule.
2. A complaint of attorney misconduct initiated by one other than a judge of this Court must be
filed in writing under oath with the Clerk of the Court, who will immediately refer the matter
to the Chief Judge or the Chief Judge’s Article III or Magistrate Judge designee for review
and the imposition of disciplinary action if appropriate.
3. An attorney admitted to practice before this court must give written notice to the Clerk of
Court of any adverse action affecting his or her practice of law within thirty (30) days of such
adverse action, including providing copies of the documents from the Louisiana Supreme
Court, or any other acting body, declaring the adverse action. In this context “adverse action”
is defined as (a) the filing of formal public charges against him or her by any bar association
or committee thereof; (b) issuance of a public reprimand, fine, suspension, or disbarment by
any court or bar association or any committee thereof; or (c) the conviction of any felony or
of any misdemeanor involving such person’s practice of law. The Clerk of Court will refer
all notices of adverse action to the Chief Judge or Article III designee of the Chief Judge.
B. Disciplinary Action
1. Suspension or disbarment imposed by other courts:
If another federal court or the Louisiana Supreme Court takes adverse action against an
attorney in the form of a suspension or disbarment of such attorney, this Court may take the
same action against the attorney by signature of the Chief Judge. Nothing in this provision
will prevent this Court, by majority vote, from taking a different action.
2. Fines or suspensions of 90 days or less imposed by this District:
An Article III, Magistrate, or Bankruptcy judge may impose on a member of the bar of this
court fines or suspension of 90 days or less without having to seek the approval of the Article
III judges of the court or the Chief Judge.
3. Suspensions of greater than 90 days or disbarments imposed by this District:
An Article III, Magistrate, or Bankruptcy judge of this District must refer proposed
suspensions of greater than 90 days or disbarments of attorneys to the Chief Judge or the
Chief Judge’s Article III designee to investigate and determine a recommended action to take
against the attorney. After notice to the attorney and an opportunity to be heard, the Chief
Judge or his or her designee must present any recommended action against the attorney to
the Article III judges of this Court. A majority vote of the Article III judges must then be
taken on the recommended action at a general or special meeting or by email vote.
C. Reinstatement and Readmission
1. Reinstatement after a suspension of one year or less:
(a) Once an attorney has served an active suspension of one year or less pursuant to
disciplinary proceedings, the attorney may file a petition for reinstatement with this
Court setting forth that the attorney has fully complied with the requirements of the
suspension order and the reasons why reinstatement should be granted. The attorney
must provide copies of the documents from the Louisiana Supreme Court, or any
other acting body, showing why the attorney was suspended, and when reinstated.
(b) A decision on reinstatement will be made by a majority vote of the Article III Judges
after consultation at a general or special meeting or by email vote.
2. Reinstatement after a suspension of more than one year and readmission after disbarment:
(a) In the event that a member of the bar of this Court has been suspended more than one
year or disbarred, the attorney may file a petition for reinstatement or readmission
with this Court setting forth the reasons why reinstatement or readmission should be
granted and providing documentation of the original suspension of more than one
year or disbarment and copies of any action by the Louisiana Supreme Court, or any
other acting body, declaring the attorney reinstated or readmitted.
(b) The petition for reinstatement or readmission will be submitted to the Article III
judges of this Court who will either grant or deny the petition or refer the same to a
Special Master or Magistrate Judge for a report and recommendation. Final action
will be by majority vote of all the Article III judges of the Court after consultation,
either at a general or special meeting or by email vote.
3. Expedited Review
An attorney may, in the event of exigent circumstances and with documentation showing
good cause, request the Court review a petition for reinstatement or readmission in an
expedited fashion. The request will be forwarded to the Chief Judge or his or her designee
for review and consideration.
D. Judicial Control
Nothing in this rule will be read to limit the inherent powers of a judge to control litigation, nor to
limit the powers to impose fines, penalties and sanctions granted under the Federal Rules, United
States Code or as otherwise authorized by law.
