(A) All counsel admitted to practice before this court or admitted for the
purpose of a particular proceeding (pro hac vice) shall be admitted subject
to the following rules, conditions, and provisions.
(B) For purposes of these rules, “this court” includes the bankruptcy division of
the District of South Carolina unless otherwise indicated. All duties
imposed on or notices required to be provided to the clerk of court refer to
the clerk of the district court. The clerk of the district court shall ensure that
notices of suspension or reinstatement, or other notices respecting an
attorney’s right to practice in this court, are promptly forwarded to the clerk
of the bankruptcy division.
RDE RULE I
ATTORNEYS CONVICTED OF CRIMES
(A) Upon the filing with this court of a certified copy of a judgment of
conviction demonstrating that any attorney admitted to practice before this
court has been convicted in any court of the United States, or the District of
Columbia, or of any state, territory, commonwealth or possession of the
United States of a serious crime as hereinafter defined, this court may enter
an order immediately suspending that attorney, whether the conviction
resulted from a plea of guilty, or nolo contendere or from a verdict after trial
or otherwise, and regardless of the pendency of any appeal, until final
disposition of a disciplinary proceeding to be commenced upon such
conviction. A copy of such order shall immediately be served upon the
attorney. Upon good cause shown, this court may set aside such order when
it appears that the interests of justice require the same.
(B) The term “serious crime” shall include any felony and any lesser crime a
necessary element of which, as determined by the statutory or common law
definition of such crime in the jurisdiction where the judgment was entered,
involves false swearing, misrepresentation, fraud, willful failure to file
income tax returns, deceit, bribery, extortion, misappropriation, theft, or an
attempt or a conspiracy or solicitation of any other to commit a “serious
crime.”
(C) A certified copy of a judgment of conviction of an attorney for any crime
shall be conclusive evidence of the commission of that crime in any
disciplinary proceeding instituted against that attorney based, in whole or in
part, upon the conviction.
(D) Upon the filing of a certified copy of a judgment of conviction of an
attorney for a serious crime, this court, in addition to suspending that
attorney in accordance with the provisions of this rule, may also refer the
matter to counsel for the institution of a disciplinary proceeding before this
court in that the sole issue to be determined shall be the extent of the final
discipline to be imposed as a result of the conduct resulting in the
conviction, provided that a disciplinary proceeding so instituted will not be
brought to final hearing until all appeals from the conviction are concluded.
(E) Upon the filing of a certified copy of a judgment of conviction of an
attorney for a crime not constituting a “serious crime,” this court may refer
the matter to counsel for whatever action counsel may deem warranted,
including the institution of a disciplinary proceeding before this court;
provided, however, that this court in its discretion may make no references
with respect to convictions for minor offenses.
(F) An attorney suspended under the provisions of this rule will be immediately
reinstated upon the filing of a certificate demonstrating that the underlying
conviction of a serious crime has been reversed but the reinstatement will
not terminate any disciplinary proceeding then pending against the attorney,
the disposition of which shall be determined by this court on the basis of all
available evidence pertaining to both guilt and the extent of discipline to be
imposed.
RDE RULE II
DISCIPLINE IMPOSED BY OTHER COURTS
(A) Any attorney admitted to practice before this court shall, upon being
subjected to public discipline by any other court of the United States or the
District of Columbia, or by a court of any state, territory, commonwealth or
possession of the United States, inform the clerk of court in writing within
fourteen (14) days of such action. See supra Local Civ. Rule 83.I.08(B)
(D.S.C.) (the clerk of the district court shall inform the clerk of the
bankruptcy division).
(B) Upon the filing of a certified or exemplified copy of a judgment or order
demonstrating that an attorney admitted to practice before this court has
been subjected to public discipline by another court, this court may impose
reciprocal or other discipline pursuant to the procedures set forth below.
Prior to imposing any discipline, the court shall issue a notice directed to the
attorney containing:
(1) A copy of the judgment or order from the other court and
(2) An order to show cause directing that the attorney inform this court
within thirty (30) days after service of that order upon the attorney,
personally or by mail, of any claim by the attorney predicated upon the
grounds set forth in (D) hereof that the imposition of the identical
discipline by this court would be unwarranted and the reasons therefor.
(C) In the event the discipline imposed in the other jurisdiction has been stayed
there, any reciprocal discipline imposed in this court shall be deferred until
such stay expires.
(D) Upon the expiration of thirty (30) days from service of the notice issued
pursuant to the provisions of (B) above, this court shall impose the identical
discipline unless the respondent-attorney demonstrates, or this court finds,
that upon the face of the record upon which the discipline in another
jurisdiction is predicated, it clearly appears that one or more of the
following circumstances applies:
(1) That the procedure was so lacking in notice or opportunity to be heard
as to constitute a deprivation of due process.
(2) That there was such an infirmity of proof establishing the misconduct
as to give rise to the clear conviction that this court could not,
consistent with its duty, accept as final the conclusion on that subject.
(3) That the imposition of the same discipline by this court would result in
grave injustice.
(4) That the misconduct established is deemed by this court to warrant
substantially different discipline.
Where this court determines that any of the above elements exist, it shall
enter such other order as it deems appropriate.
(E) In all other respects, a final adjudication in another court that an attorney
has been guilty of misconduct shall conclusively establish the misconduct
for purposes of a disciplinary proceeding in this court.
(F) This court may at any stage appoint counsel to prosecute the disciplinary
proceedings or defend a respondent-attorney. See infra RDE V(A).
(G) If an attorney admitted to practice before this court is disbarred or
suspended by the South Carolina Supreme Court, such suspension or
disbarment shall be immediately effective in this court. The nature and term
of discipline shall be identical unless this court determines that the
misconduct justifies a more severe disciplinary action, in which case the
attorney will be given notice and an opportunity to demonstrate that the
imposition of a more severe disciplinary action is unwarranted.
RDE RULE III
DISBARMENT ON CONSENT OR RESIGNATION IN OTHER COURTS
(A) Any attorney admitted to practice before this court who shall be disbarred
on consent or resign from the bar of any other court of the United States or
the District of Columbia, or from the bar of any state, territory,
commonwealth or possession of the United States while an investigation
into allegations of misconduct is pending, shall, upon the filing with this
court of a certified or exemplified copy of the judgment or order accepting
such disbarment on consent or resignation, cease to be permitted to practice
before this court and be stricken from the roll of attorneys admitted to
practice before this court.
(B) Any attorney admitted to practice before this court shall, upon being
disbarred on consent or resigning from the bar of any other court of the
United States or the District of Columbia, or from the bar of any state,
territory, commonwealth, or possession of the United States while an
investigation into allegations of misconduct is pending, promptly inform the
clerk of this court of such disbarment on consent or resignation.
RDE RULE IV
STANDARDS FOR PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
(A) For misconduct defined in these rules, and for good cause shown, and after
notice and opportunity to be heard, any attorney admitted to practice before
this court may be disbarred, suspended from practice before this court for a
definite time, fined, and/or reprimanded, either publicly or privately, or
subjected to other disciplinary action as the circumstances may warrant.
(B) Acts or omissions by an attorney admitted to practice before this court,
individually or in concert with any other person or persons, that violate the
Code of Professional Responsibility 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 any attorney-client relationship. The
Code of Professional Responsibility adopted by this court is the South
Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct (Rule 407 of the South Carolina
Appellate Court Rules) adopted by the South Carolina Supreme Court, as
amended from time to time by that state court, except as otherwise provided
by specific rule of this court.
RDE RULE V
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
(A) When misconduct or allegations of misconduct that, as substantiated, would
warrant discipline on the part of an attorney admitted to practice before this
court shall come to the attention of a judge of this court, whether by
complaint or otherwise, and the applicable procedure is not otherwise
mandated by these rules, that judge shall petition the chief judge of the
district court to (1) refer the matter to the appropriate state disciplinary
authority for investigation or prosecution or (2) refer the matter to the
United States Attorney or other selected counsel for investigation and the
prosecution of a formal disciplinary proceeding or the formulation of such
other recommendation as may be appropriate. Nothing herein shall,
however, preclude a judge from reporting an attorney’s actions or inactions
directly to the disciplinary authority for any state where the attorney is
admitted to practice. The chief judge may also appoint defense counsel for
an indigent attorney. Counsel appointed for prosecution or defense will be
compensated according to the court’s plan for appointment of counsel in
criminal cases, from the attorney admission fund in an amount to be
determined by the chief judge. Should the chief judge be disqualified, the
most senior active district judge shall have the responsibility of enforcing
this section. Should the matter be referred to a state disciplinary authority,
or should there be a parallel state disciplinary proceeding, the chief judge
may provide to such authority information and documents pertinent to the
investigation, subject to the requirements of Rule 6(e), Federal Rules of
Criminal Procedure, and an appropriate protective order.
(B) Counsel appointed pursuant to these rules to investigate allegations of
misconduct or prosecute disciplinary proceedings or in conjunction with a
reinstatement petition, as well as the respondent-attorney, shall have the
authority to issue subpoenas pursuant to Rule 17 of the Federal Rules of
Criminal Procedure.
(C) Should counsel conclude after investigation and review that a formal
disciplinary proceeding should not be initiated against the respondent-
attorney because sufficient evidence is not present, or because there is
another proceeding pending against the respondent-attorney, the disposition
of which in the judgment of counsel should be awaited before further action
by this court is considered, or for any other valid reason, counsel shall file
with the court a recommendation for disposition of the matter, whether by
dismissal, admonition, deferral, or otherwise setting forth the reasons for
such recommendation.
(D) To initiate formal disciplinary proceedings, counsel shall obtain an order of
this court, upon a showing of probable cause, requiring the respondent-
attorney to show cause within thirty (30) days after service of that order
upon that attorney, personally or by mail, why the attorney should not be
disciplined. The respondent-attorney shall have the right to be represented
by counsel in these proceedings.
(E) Upon the respondent-attorney’s answer to the order to show cause, if any
issue of fact is raised or the respondent-attorney wishes to be heard in
mitigation, the chief judge shall set the matter for prompt hearing before a
panel of three judges of this court (“disciplinary panel”). In the event the
complaint relates to one or more bankruptcy division matters, at least one of
the judges on the panel shall be a bankruptcy division judge. If the
disciplinary proceeding is predicated upon the complaint of a judge of this
court, the complaining judge shall not serve on the panel. Mere forwarding
or referring a complaint made by a third party shall not, however, preclude a
judge from serving on the disciplinary panel.
(F) The senior judge of the three-judge disciplinary panel, within a reasonable
time following the hearing, shall provide to the district court a written report
that shall include a recommendation as well as a transcript of the hearing
and all pleadings and evidence.
(G) After receiving the report, the district court, sitting en banc, shall by written
order make a final determination. In the event the complaint relates to one
or more bankruptcy division matters, the judges of the bankruptcy division
shall participate in the en banc review.
(H) Misconduct, as the term is used herein, means any one or more of the
following:
(1) Violation of any provision of the oath of office taken upon admission
to the practice of law.
(2) Violation of any provision of the South Carolina Rules of Professional
Conduct as adopted by this court.
(3) Commission of a crime involving moral turpitude.
(4) Conduct tending to pollute or obstruct the administration of justice or
to bring the courts or the legal profession into disrepute.
(5) Conduct demonstrating a lack of professional competence in the
practice of law.
(6) Conduct tending to obstruct the court’s disciplinary investigation.
(7) Conduct constituting a serious crime as defined in RDE I(B).
(8) Conduct violating applicable rules of professional conduct of another
jurisdiction.
(I) Upon receipt of sufficient evidence demonstrating that an attorney poses a
substantial threat of serious harm to the public or the administration of
justice, and pursuant to the procedures set forth below, the attorney may be
placed on interim suspension or may have other restrictions placed on his or
her rights to practice in this court pending a final determination in any
proceeding under these rules.
(1) A petition for interim suspension/restrictions may be initiated by the
investigating attorney, by any judge of the court, or by the disciplinary
panel on its own motion.
(2) The petition shall set forth the factual basis for the proposed
suspension/restrictions and shall be served personally or by mail on
the attorney who is the subject of the petition.
(3) The petition shall be forwarded to the disciplinary panel, if one has
been assigned, or, if no disciplinary panel has been assigned or if
exigent circumstances require a more immediate response, to the chief
judge of the district court. If the chief judge is unavailable or if the
petition or complaint was initiated by the chief judge, then the petition
shall be forwarded to the next most senior district judge.
(4) The disciplinary panel or judge to whom the petition is forwarded
pursuant to RDE V(I)(3) above may enter an interim suspension based
on such further proceedings as are consistent with due process,
including, if made necessary by exigent circumstances, without any
further pre-suspension proceedings.
(5) An attorney placed on interim suspension/restrictions by a single judge
may apply for reconsideration to the judge who entered the
suspension/restrictions order. If the application is denied, the attorney
may appeal to the disciplinary panel. Interim suspensions entered by
the disciplinary panel may be appealed to the en banc court.
(6) Any interim suspension/restrictions shall be set forth in an unsealed
order stating only the fact and effective dates of the
suspension/restrictions. All other documents and information relating
to the suspension/restrictions shall be kept confidential pending
completion of the proceedings except that a copy of all such
documents may be provided to other entities with disciplinary
authority.
RDE RULE VI
DISBARMENT ON CONSENT WHILE UNDER
DISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATION OR PROSECUTION
(A) Any attorney admitted to practice before this court who is the subject of an
investigation into, or a pending proceeding involving, allegations of
misconduct may consent to disbarment, but only by delivering to this court
an affidavit stating that the attorney desires to consent to disbarment and
that each of the following is true:
(1) The attorney’s consent is freely and voluntarily rendered; the attorney
is not being subjected to coercion or duress; the attorney is fully aware
of the implications of so consenting.
(2) The attorney is aware that there is a pending investigation or
proceeding involving allegations that grounds exist for the attorney’s
discipline, the nature of which the attorney shall specifically set forth.
(3) The attorney acknowledges that the material facts so alleged are true.
(4) The attorney so consents because the attorney knows that if charges
were predicated upon the matters under investigation, or if the
proceeding were prosecuted, the attorney could not successfully
defend himself or herself.
(B) Upon receipt of the required affidavit, this court shall enter an order
disbarring the attorney.
(C) The order disbarring the attorney on consent shall be a matter of public
record. However, the affidavit required under the provisions of this rule
shall not be publicly disclosed or made available for use in any other
proceeding except upon order of this court.
RDE RULE VII
REINSTATEMENT
(A) After Disbarment or Suspension. An attorney suspended for less than a year
may resume practice before this court upon the expiration of the suspension
ordered by the South Carolina Supreme Court and this court. An attorney
disbarred or suspended for a year or more must reapply for admission and
may not resume practice until reinstated by order of this court.
(B) Time of Application Following Disbarment. A person who has been
disbarred after hearing or by consent may not apply for reinstatement until
the expiration of at least five (5) years from the effective date of the
disbarment.
(C) Hearing on Application. Petitions for reinstatement by a disbarred or
suspended attorney under this rule shall be filed with the chief judge of this
court. Upon receipt of the petition for reinstatement, the chief judge shall
first submit the matter to the full court to determine whether to accept a
decision of the South Carolina Supreme Court reinstating the attorney. If
the court declines to accept the South Carolina Supreme Court’s decision
without further review, the chief judge shall then advise the petitioner of the
right to request a hearing before a three-judge panel of this court for review
and further consideration of the petition for reinstatement. In the event a
panel is not requested, the petition for reinstatement shall be dismissed. If
the disciplinary proceeding was predicated upon the complaint of a judge of
this court, the complaining judge shall not serve on the panel. The judges
assigned to the matter shall promptly, after referral, assign the matter to
counsel and schedule a hearing at which the petitioner shall have the burden
of demonstrating by clear and convincing evidence that he or she has the
moral qualifications, competency, and learning in the law required for
admission to practice law before this court and that his or her resumption of
the practice of law will not be detrimental to the integrity and standing of
the bar or to the administration of justice or subversive of the public interest.
Within a reasonable time following the hearing, the senior judge of the
three-judge panel shall provide all judges of this court a written report that
shall include a recommendation pursuant to subparagraph (F) of this section.
After receiving the report, this court, sitting en banc, shall by written order
make a final determination and enter judgment pursuant to subparagraph (F)
of this section.
(D) Duty of Counsel. In all proceedings upon a petition for reinstatement, cross-
examination of the witnesses of the respondent-attorney and the submission
of evidence, if any, in opposition to the petition shall be conducted by
counsel.
(E) Deposit for Costs of Proceeding. Petitions for reinstatement under this rule
shall be accompanied by an advance cost deposit in an amount to be set
from time to time by this court to cover anticipated costs of the
reinstatement proceeding.
(F) Conditions of Reinstatement. If the petitioner is found unfit to resume the
practice of law before this court, the petition shall be dismissed. If the
petitioner is found fit to resume the practice of law before this court, the
judgment shall reinstate the petitioner, provided that the judgment may
make reinstatement conditional upon the payment of all or part of the costs
of the proceedings, and upon the making of partial or complete restitution to
parties harmed by the petitioner whose conduct led to the suspension or
disbarment. This court may impose any conditions of reinstatement that are
reasonably related to the grounds for the lawyer’s original suspension or
disbarment, or to evidence presented at the hearing regarding the lawyer’s
failure to meet the criteria for reinstatement. Provided further that if the
petitioner has been suspended or disbarred for five (5) years or more,
reinstatement may be conditioned, in the discretion of this court, upon the
furnishing of proof of competency and learning in the law, that proof may
include certification by the bar examiners of a state or other jurisdiction of
the attorney’s successful completion of an examination for admission to
practice subsequent to the date of suspension or disbarment.
(G) Successive Petitions. No petition for reinstatement under this rule shall be
filed within one (1) year following an adverse judgment upon a petition for
reinstatement filed by or on behalf of the same person.
RDE RULE VIII
SERVICE OF PAPERS AND OTHER NOTICES
Service of an order to show cause instituting a formal disciplinary proceeding shall be
made by personal service or by registered or certified mail addressed to the respondent-attorney
at the last address of record with the clerk of court. Service of any other papers or notices
required by these rules shall be deemed to have been made (1) if delivered electronically through
the court’s electronic filing system or (2) if mailed to the respondent-attorney at the last address
of record with the clerk of court or (3) if mailed to counsel for the respondent-attorney at the
address indicated in the most recent document filed on behalf of the respondent-attorney in the
course of any proceeding.
RDE RULE IX
APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
Whenever counsel other than the United States Attorney is to be appointed pursuant to
these rules to investigate allegations of misconduct or prosecute disciplinary proceedings or in
conjunction with a reinstatement petition, this court shall appoint as counsel one or more
members of the bar of this court. The respondent-attorney may move to disqualify the United
States Attorney or any other attorney so appointed on grounds of conflict of interest. Any
motion for disqualification shall be determined by the chief judge or, should the chief judge be
disqualified, the most senior active judge. Counsel, once appointed, may not resign unless
permission to do so is given by this court.
RDE RULE X
DUTIES OF THE CLERK OF COURT
(A) Upon being informed that an attorney admitted to practice before this court
has been convicted of any crime, the clerk of this court shall determine
whether the clerk of court in which such conviction occurred has forwarded
a certificate of such conviction to this court or to the South Carolina
Supreme Court or its disciplinary counsel. If a certificate has not been so
forwarded, the clerk of court shall promptly obtain a certificate and file it
with this court.
(B) Upon being informed that an attorney admitted to practice before this court
has been subjected to public discipline by another court, the clerk of court
shall determine whether a certified or exemplified copy of the disciplinary
judgment or order has been filed with this court, and, if not, the clerk of
court shall promptly obtain a certified copy or exemplified copy of the
disciplinary judgment or order and file it with this court.
(C) Whenever it appears that any person convicted of any crime or disbarred or
suspended or censured or disbarred on consent by this court is admitted to
practice law in any other jurisdiction or before any other court, the clerk of
court, within fourteen (14) days of that conviction, disbarment, suspension,
censure, or disbarment on consent, shall transmit to the disciplinary
authority in such other jurisdiction, or for such other court, a certificate of
the conviction or a certified or exemplified copy of the judgment or order of
disbarment, suspension, censure, or disbarment on consent, as well as the
last known office and residence addresses of the defendant or respondent.
(D) The clerk of court shall likewise promptly notify the National Lawyer
Regulatory Data Bank operated by the American Bar Association of any
order imposing public discipline upon any attorney admitted to practice
before this court.
(E) The clerk of court shall be responsible for circulating all notices relating to
disciplinary action to all judges of this court, including all magistrate,
bankruptcy and district judges, as well as the clerk of the bankruptcy
division.
RDE RULE XI
JURISDICTION
Nothing contained in these rules shall be construed to deny to this court such powers as
are necessary for this court to maintain control over proceedings conducted before it, including,
but not limited to, the power to impose sanctions including civil penalties or other action
authorized by rule or statute, enjoin violations of the law, or institute proceedings for contempt.
RDE RULE XII
EFFECTIVE DATE
Any amendments to these disciplinary enforcement rules shall become effective
immediately upon the entry and filing of any order, provided that any formal disciplinary
proceedings then pending before this court shall be concluded under the procedure existing prior
to the effective date of these amendments.
