Perhaps the biggest news arising out of our 2006 Lawyer Discipline Report Card is how little most disciplinary bodies have changed since we issued our last Report Card four years ago. Sadly, the range of grades remains abysmal and most states maintained their general standing.

Three noteworthy exceptions, however, did shake up the grades. Pennsylvania's disciplinary body, which HALT rated as worst in the nation four years ago, ascended to fifth in the nation in 2006. "While the system is far from perfect, Pennsylvania's dedication to reform should be a model to the rest of the nation," stated HALT Associate Counsel Suzanne M. Blonder.

Following the release of the 2002 Report Card, Pennsylvania disciplinary officials requested HALT's assistance to develop a more effective and consumer-friendly structure. In 2003, HALT helped the Office of Disciplinary Counsel to develop the state's first attorney discipline Web site. Today, the Web site is one of the best disciplinary Web sites in the nation. In addition, the state has improved its reporting to the American Bar Association and abolished its overbroad confidentiality policy which, for 30 years, had required that disciplinary hearings be held in secret.

Massachusetts' standing also changed significantly, but this time for the worse; the state nosedived from best disciplinary system nationwide in 2002 to seventeenth in the country in 2006. Over the past four years, Massachusetts' system cut back on publicizing its system and slowed down its case processing. One of the most inefficient disciplinary bodies in the nation, Massachusetts delays bringing formal charges against an attorney for an average of two years after a complaint is received by the Board of Bar Overseers.

California's standing also fell dramatically over the past four years. In 2002, HALT rated California in the top quartile of disciplinary bodies across the country; today, the state is ranked an abysmal 45th in the nation. Although the Bar was investigating every complaint it received four years ago, the 2006 Report Card shows that California is now only reviewing one out of every three complaints filed. In addition, the Bar's automated telephone system has become more confusing, preventing consumers from obtaining prompt answers to specific questions from a staff member.

2006 Lawyer Discipline Report Card