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Professional Responsibility and Ethics

Model Rules of Professional Conduct


Although attorneys are governed by rules of legal ethics and professional responsibility adopted by each state, the American Bar Association has adopted the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct.  2020 ed.

New York State uses the Code of Professional Responsibility.  The four Appellate Divisions in New York adopt the disciplinary rules and promulgate them as Joint Rules of the Appellate Divisions.

McKinney's Consolidated Laws of New York. Title 26 (Judiciary).  Appendix.  Rules of Professional Conduct amended to March, 2021

NYCRR (The Official Compilation of Codes, Rules, Regulations of the State of New York). PRINT KFN 5035.A2

NYCRR (The Official Compilation of Codes, Rules, Regulations of the State of New York).  Free electronic version.

New York Rules of Professional Conduct, as amended through April 1, 2021

New York State Administrative Law Judges Rules of Conduct

New York State Unified Court System Model Rules of Professional Conduct.  Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics

Restatement of the Law, Third - The Law Governing Lawyers.  HeinOnline (Access limited to NYLS Community).

 

 

 

 

 

Judicial Ethics

Prior to 1974, judges in New York State were disciplined for professional misconduct by a poorly organized system of courts and procedures.  Beginning in 1974, the New York State Legislature introduced a judicial disciplinary system, which created a termporary commission with a full-time professional staff to investigate and prosecute cases of judicial misconduct.  In 1976 and 1977, the commission's powers were expanded by amending the State Constitution.