1. Attorney Misconduct
U.S. District Court of Maryland Local Rules (December 1, 2025)
RULE 703. ATTORNEYS SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINE
Any attorney practicing before this Court or who has practiced before this Court in any
way shall be deemed thereby to have conferred disciplinary jurisdiction upon the Court for
any alleged misconduct of that attorney. To the extent appropriate, all Rules set forth herein
as applicable to attorneys admitted to practice before the Court shall also be deemed
applicable to and enforceable against any attorney participating in any manner in any
proceeding in this Court, whether or not admitted to practice before the Court.
RULE 704. RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
This Court shall apply the Rules of Professional Conduct as they have been adopted by
the Supreme Court of Maryland.
RULE 705. DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
1. Attorney Misconduct
a) Allegations of Misconduct
If allegations of misconduct which, if substantiated, would warrant discipline of an
attorney, come to the attention of a judge of this Court, the judge may refer the matter to
the Court’s Disciplinary and Admissions Committee. Upon referral, the Disciplinary and
Admissions Committee may either (1) conduct its own investigation or (2) it may decline to
take action and instead refer the matter to either the Maryland Attorney Grievance
Commission, or the state bar authority serving as the basis for the attorney-respondent’s
membership in this Court’s Bar. If after its initial review, the Disciplinary and Admissions
Committee finds that further investigation is necessary, it may recommend to the Court the
appointment of an attorney-investigator as provided for in L.R. 705.1.b. If the Disciplinary
and Admissions Committee finds no reasonable basis for additional investigation, it may
recommend to the Court either (1) the initiation of formal proceedings under L.R. 705.1.c
or (2) the imposition of a warning, conditional diversion agreement, or additional conditions
as permitted by L.R. 705.1.h. If the Disciplinary and Admissions Committee finds no basis
for discipline, it may dismiss the matter and advise the attorney-respondent by letter.
b) Appointment of Attorney-Investigator
The Court, upon the recommendation of the Disciplinary and Admissions Committee,
may appoint one or more members of the Bar of the Court as attorney-investigators to
conduct the investigation. Notice of any such appointment shall be given to the attorney-
respondent, and the attorney-respondent may move to disqualify any appointed attorney-
investigator within fourteen (14) days of mailing the notice of appointment to the attorney-
respondent’s address on file with the Clerk’s Office. After the conclusion of the
investigation, the attorney-investigator(s) shall submit to the Disciplinary and Admissions
