Board on Professional Responsibility

The Hearing Committees of the Board have the authority under Rule XI to conduct hearings on formal charges of misconduct and contested petitions for reinstatement, limited hearings on petitions for negotiated discipline, and hearings on such other matters as the Court or Board may direct. Each Hearing Committee is composed of two attorney members and one public member. Hearing Committee members are appointed by the Board and are eligible to serve two three-year terms.  There are 12 standing Hearing Committees and a roster of alternate Hearing Committee members, who serve when a regular member is unavailable.

The Hearing Committees consider evidence and the testimony of witnesses, taken under oath, in a proceeding that is public. Hearing Committees are generally guided, but not bound, by provisions or rules of court practice, procedure, pleading, and evidence. In contested disciplinary proceedings, the matter is briefed at the conclusion of the hearing, and the Hearing Committee prepares a report and recommendation, with proposed findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a recommended sanction, which is filed with the Board. In contested petitions for reinstatement, the Hearing Committee files its proposed findings and recommendation directly with the Court. Petitions for negotiated discipline are considered after a limited hearing, where the Hearing Committee determines whether the agreement complies with the requirements of Rule XI and the Board Rules and if the agreed-upon sanction is justified. If the Hearing Committee approves the negotiated discipline, it files its recommendation directly with the Court. If it does not approve the negotiated discipline, the Hearing Committee issues an order rejecting the agreement of the parties.

Attorney members of the Hearing Committees (referred to as “Contact Members”) are also responsible for reviewing, approving, or suggesting modifications to Disciplinary Counsel’s proposed dispositions of disciplinary complaints.

Hearing Committees Members Lawyer Alternates Public Member Alternates

Hearing and Oral Argument Schedule

An upcoming schedule of hearings and oral arguments held in Courtroom II of the Historic Courthouse of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

Rules of the Board on Professional Responsibility

Effective November 6, 2018, the Board on Professional Responsibility has amended its rules of procedure.

Forms and Documents

Various Board on Professional Responsibility forms and documents.

Disciplinary Decisions

Disciplinary system recommendations and actions are available from 1979 to the present and updated as information is received from the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and Board on Professional Responsibility.