Arizona Gov. Ducey signs bill targeting state bar complaints

PHOENIX – Gov. Doug Ducey has signed a invoice requiring the state bar to pay legal professional charges and different prices if the group seeks to self-discipline a lawyer and finally ends up shedding.

The Republican governor signed the measure on Could 9, hours after Senate Republicans gave ultimate approval in a party-line vote.

Critics warned the measure has the potential to discourage investigations of attorneys accused of moral violations or different misbehavior.

Republican Sen. Vince Leach launched the invoice after Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs filed a bar criticism in opposition to Republican Lawyer Common Mark Brnovich, which he stated had “weaponized” the bar criticism system. Hobbs stated Brnovich and attorneys in his workplace broke legal professional ethics guidelines whereas representing her in circumstances associated to the 2020 election. Brnovich agreed to a settlement this yr with the State Bar of Arizona.

Beneath the brand new legislation, the bar will probably be required to pay for legal professional charges and courtroom prices if it pursues self-discipline however doesn’t win the case. Leach’s invoice initially would have required the bar to additionally pay for investigation prices, the lack of future earnings and harm to a lawyer’s popularity however these provisions have been stripped from the invoice by the Home.

Joel England, govt director of the state bar, informed lawmakers the small variety of disciplinary circumstances reveals the system has not been weaponized.

He stated with practically 25,000 attorneys within the state, there have been 2,885 fees and 403 have been investigated in 2020. He stated formal motion was taken in 68 circumstances.