Ethics Governance
Ethics & Governance - Resources and Articles |
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| Article - Abstract. To view full article click on the article title. | |
http://www.wsba.org/media/publications/barnews/archives/1999/sep-99-ethics.htm Reporting Professional Misconduct by Barrie Althoff, WSBA Chief Disciplinary Counsel. Opinions expressed herein are the author's and are not official or unofficial WSBA positions. Few of us like reporting someone else's misconduct. Whether it is called reporting, informing, squealing, snitching, ratting, tattling or whistle-blowing, it reminds us of primary-school days and sibling squabbles. It is simply not something you did, especially if you wanted to remain "friends" with someone. The legacy of the past and reality of the present lives in each of us and forms our judgment. We are inclined not to report the offender because we want to give the offender the benefit of the doubt, because we may prefer not to publicize misconduct in our profession, because reporting the offender may make it difficult or impossible thereafter to deal with the offender, and because we don't want to get involved. We may also forgive or discount misconduct since we ourselves may have erred or fear we may do so. Who are we to throw the first stone? The necessity of exposing ethical misconduct, however, has long been recognized by the profession. Canon 29 of the American Bar Association's Canons of Professional Ethics, adopted by the ABA in Seattle on August 27, 1908, directed that "lawyers should expose without fear or favor before the proper tribunals corrupt or dishonest conduct in the profession." Washington long ago adopted that directive.1 Although the former canons have been superseded, current ethical rules still echo this directive. Full Article: http://www.wsba.org/media/publications/barnews/archives/1999/sep-99-ethics.htm |
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2006 Ethics-Governance.com |
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