RULE 1.2.GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINE.

Obsolete Date: 3/1/2017

A. Grounds for Discipline. A lawyer may be disciplined for the following misconduct:

(1) Violating or attempting to violate the North Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct, assist or induce another to do so, or do so through the acts of another;

(2) Committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer;

(3) Engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation;

(4) Stating or implying an ability to influence improperly a government agency or official;

(5) Violating a provision of the canons governing judicial conduct adopted by the court;

(6) Assisting a judge or judicial officer in conduct in violation of canons of judicial conduct or other law;

(7) Willfully failing to appear before the court, board, or district inquiry Committee when required to do so;

(8) Engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, including willful violation of a valid order of the court or board imposing discipline, or willfully failing to respond to a lawful demand from a disciplinary authority, except that this rule does not require disclosure of information otherwise protected by applicable rules of privilege or confidentiality;

(9) Violating any condition attached to a certificate of admission;

(10) Violating a duty specified in Section 27-13-01 of the North Dakota Century Code; or

(11) Committing any act specified in Section 27-14-02 of the North Dakota Century Code as a cause for suspension or disbarment.

B. Exception.

A lawyer who acts with good faith and reasonable reliance on a written opinion or advisory letter of the ethics committee of the association is not subject to sanction for violation of the North Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct as to the conduct that is the subject of the opinion or advisory letter.

In order to preserve the identities and confidentialities of attorneys' clients, all proceedings of the ethics committee of the association, the identity of requesting attorneys, and all requests, drafts and other records of the committee, other than its final opinions, are confidential.