Ethics 06-22-07

The governor could immediately remove a disbarred judge or district attorney under a bill that received final approval this week in the General Assembly. The bill, Senate Bill 118, will also allow for the suspension of the disbarred lawyer's pay. It would be reinstated if the disbarment was reversed. Existing state law requires judges and DA's to be members of the bar in good standing, but doesn't provide for their removal. The bill came after a district court judge who lost his law license refused to leave his job, even though he was suspended from acting as a judge.

The House approved Senate Bill 659 Thursday that would take away the pensions of state or local elected officials convicted of public corruption or election fraud. It now returns to the Senate for concurrence.