Judicial Ethics Committee
Jurisdiction
The jurisdiction of the Standing Committee on Professional Ethics is derived from authority granted under the Board of Commissioners and oversight provided by the Professional Standards Committee.
The Standing Committee on Professional Ethics offers analysis and guidance concerning the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, and, to the extent that they relate to attorney conduct in Michigan, the ABA Model Rules of Judicial Conduct, the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the Michigan Court Rules to the extent they relate to judicial conduct, and other applicable professional conduct standards, as well as emerging issues of professional conduct affecting lawyers by:
- Rendering informal advisory opinions on professional ethics, which are published on the State Bar of Michigan website.
- Rendering proposed formal advisory opinions for consideration by the Board of Commissioners.
- Update published opinions as rules, case law, and legislation are modified.
- Recommend amendments and provide comments to proposed amendments to the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct and other standards of professional conduct that relate to lawyer conduct.
- Recommend amendments and provide comments to proposed amendments to court rules or legislation affecting professional ethics that relate to lawyer conduct and present recommendations to the Board of Commissioners or Representative Assembly for consideration.
- Drafting resources relevant to professional ethics as it relates to lawyer conduct, which are published on the State Bar of Michigan website.
- Consult with external stakeholders on various professional ethics topics.
- Consult with the Attorney Grievance Commission and the Attorney Discipline Board to discuss trends, data, and insights as it relates to lawyer conduct and advisory guidance.
- Review and evaluate available metrics measuring the effectiveness of national and state efforts to reduce conduct subject to professional discipline and promote professionalism and civility.
Note: Pursuant to operating rules adopted by the Board of Commissioners, informal ethics opinions and other general resources of this Committee are made public on the Committee’s own initiative, without approval of the Board of Commissioners. This Committee may have more than 10 members.
2023-2024 Committee Members
Rules of the Committee
Resources
Annual Reports
Includes reports from Ethics, Judicial & Professional Committee, Standing Committee on Professional Ethics, and Standing Committee on Judicial Ethics.
FY 2021
FY 2020
2019-2020
2018-2019
2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014
2012-2013
2011-2012
2010-2011
2009-2010
2008-2009
2007-2008
2005-2006
2004-2005
2002-2003
Articles
Social Networking and Judges