Ethics Forum: Questions and Answers on Professional Responsibility

The retirement by a lawyer or judge, or resignation by a lawyer or judge, will not stop disciplinary action.

I am an older lawyer and ready to retire. Recently, I have had a number of disciplinary problems. If I retire and stop practicing, will the Disciplinary Board lose jurisdiction over me?

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel will have jurisdiction and the Disciplinary Board of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will have jurisdiction to impose the appropriate discipline if warranted. The fact that a lawyer or judge decides to retire to avoid serious discipline does not in any way stop the disciplinary proceedings. The lawyer can refuse to cooperate, but that does not stop the ultimate decision and discipline.