U.S. CODE

U.S. Code

Rule 15. Disbarment and Disciplinary Action

(a) The Model Rules of Professional Conduct of the American Bar Association are hereby adopted as the rules of conduct for members of the Bar of this Court. To the extent that these rules are inconsistent with applicable service rules of professional conduct, the conduct of judge advocates will be reviewed under the rules of their service. To the extent that these rules are inconsistent with the rules of professional conduct which apply in the location where a civilian member of the bar maintains a principal office, the conduct of civilian counsel will be reviewed under the rules of their licensing jurisdiction.

(b) Whenever a member of the Bar of this Court has been disbarred or suspended from practice in any court of record, the Court will enter an order suspending that member from practice before this Court and affording the member an opportunity to show cause, within 30 days, why a disbarment order should not be entered. Upon response, or if no response is timely filed, the Court will enter an appropriate order.

(c) If it appears that a member of the Bar of this Court has engaged in conduct unbecoming a member of the Bar, or failed to comply with this Rule or any other Rule or order of the Court, the Court may enter an order affording the member an opportunity to show cause, within 30 days, why disciplinary action should not be taken. If the member, in responding to the show cause order, raises material questions of fact, the Court may appoint a special master who shall hold a hearing and prepare proposed findings of fact and recommendations. After affording the member of the bar a reasonable opportunity to prepare written objections to the proposed findings of fact and recommendations, the proposed findings and recommendations, together with any written objections thereto, shall be submitted to the Court. Upon due consideration thereof, the Court may take such disciplinary action as it deems appropriate against the member of the Bar.

Tips