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Utah

ABA Model Rule 8.4(g) Efforts in Utah


Status Of Action In Utah

December 2020
Status – The Utah Supreme Court is considering amending Utah Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 8.4.

On December 23, CLS submitted a supplemental comment letter to the Utah Supreme Court. The purpose of supplemental letter was to provide the court with the December 8, 2020, decision by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in Greenberg v. Haggerty, 2020 WL 7227251 (E.D. Pa. 2020) in which that court held that Pennsylvania’s newly-adopted Rule of Professional Conduct Rule 8.4(g) violates the free speech clause of the First Amendment and granted a preliminary injunction temporarily enjoining the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from enforcing the new rule.

July 2020
On July 20, CLS filed a comment letter with the Utah Supreme Court urging it to not adopt proposed amendments to Rules 8.04 of the Utah Rules of Professional Conduct, as well a proposed amendment to USB14-301 of the Utah Standards of Professionalism and Civility. Kim Colby, Director of CLS’ Center for Law and Religious Freedom, has prepared a short document on why the Utah Supreme Court should not adopt any of the proposed rules.

As a reminder, the public comment period regarding Utah’s proposed rules changes closes on August 1, 2020. All comments must be submitted online and can be submitted by clicking here. CLS encourages you to comment. To make it easier, CLS has also prepared a sample comment letter for your use in filing comments. The sample comment letter provides basic common-sense reasons for opposing the proposed rule changes. In the alternative, please feel free to simply state that you agree with the comments filed by CLS.

June 2020
For the third time in as many years, the Utah Supreme Court is considering amendments to its professional misconduct rule. The Utah Supreme Court announced on June 17, 2020, proposed amendments to Rule 8.04 of the Utah Rules of Professional Conduct. At the same time, the Utah Supreme Court announced a proposed amendment to USB14-301 of the Utah Standards of Professionalism and Civility. Comments on the proposed amendments are being received through August 1, 2020. Comments must be submitted online and can be submitted by clicking here.

April 2019
The Utah Supreme Court is again considering amending its current misconduct rule. The Utah Supreme Court is accepting online comments on this new amendment to Utah Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 8.4 through May 5, 2019. Comments must be submitted online and can be submitted by clicking here. The Utah Supreme Court is also considering a coordinating amendment to its Standards of Professionalism and Civility, USB14-0301, and is accepting comments on this proposal as well. Comments are also due May 5, 2019, and may be submitted by clicking here. CLS filed its comments to both proposals on May 3, 2019.

Additionally, Center Director Kim Colby published an article on The Federalist Society blog post briefly explaining why Utah should not adopt either of the proposed amendments.

August 2018 
On August 17, 2018, CLS filed with the Utah Supreme Court supplemental comments regarding the proposal to adopt ABA Model Rule 8.4(g). CLS had previously submitted comments before the close of the comment period last year, but filed the supplemental comments to bring to the attention of the Utah Supreme Court Justices the decision handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court in National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra, 138 S. Ct. 2361 (U.S. June 26, 2018) (“NIFLA“).

On August 24, 2018, Kim Colby was featured on The Federalist Society Blog discussing the unconstitutionality of ABA Model Rule 8.4(g) in light of the U.S. Supreme Court decisions in NIFLA and Matal v. Tam, 137 S. Ct. 1744 (2017).

July 2017
CLS submitted its comment letter opposing the adoption of ABA Model Rule 8.4(g) in Utah. Click here to read the comments submitted by CLS. All of the submitted comments may be read at the following link: https://www.utcourts.gov/utc/rules-comment/2017/06/13/rules-of-professional-conduct-comment-period-closes-july-28-2017/.

June 2017
The Utah Supreme Court is considering amending its current misconduct rules to add ABA Model Rule 8.4(g). The Utah Supreme Court is accepting online comments through July 28, 2017.


Proposed Rule Changes in Utah

Current Rule 8.4 Misconduct
It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to:

(a) violate or attempt to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assist or induce another to do so, or do so through the acts of another;

(b) commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects;

(c) engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation;

(d) engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice;

(e) state or imply an ability to influence improperly a government agency or official or to achieve results by means that violate the Rules of Professional Conduct or other law; or

(f) knowingly assist a judge or judicial officer in conduct that is a violation of applicable rules of judicial conduct or other law.

Current Comment
[1] Lawyers are subject to discipline when they violate or attempt to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct or knowingly assist or induce another to do so through the acts of another, as when they request or instruct an agent to do so on the lawyer’s behalf. Paragraph (a), however, does not prohibit a lawyer from advising a client concerning action the client is legally entitled to take.

[1a] An act of professional misconduct under Rule 8.4(b), (c), (d), (e), or (f) cannot be counted as a separate violation of Rule 8.4(a) for the purpose of determining sanctions. Conduct that violates other Rules of Professional Conduct, however, may be a violation of Rule 8.4(a) for the purpose of determining sanctions.

[2] Many kinds of illegal conduct reflect adversely on fitness to practice law, such as offenses involving fraud and the offense of willful failure to file an income tax return. However, some kinds of offenses carry no such implication. Traditionally, the distinction was drawn in terms of offenses involving “moral turpitude.” That concept can be construed to include offenses concerning some matters of personal morality, such as adultery and comparable offenses, that have no specific connection to fitness for the practice of law. Although a lawyer is personally answerable to the entire criminal law, a lawyer should be professionally answerable only for offenses that indicate lack of those characteristics relevant to law practice. Offenses involving violence, dishonesty, breach of trust or serious interference with the administration of justice are in that category. A pattern of repeated offenses, even ones of minor significance when considered separately, can indicate indifference to legal obligation.

[3] A lawyer who, in the course of representing a client, knowingly manifests by words or conduct bias or prejudice based upon race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status, violates paragraph (d) when such actions are prejudicial to the administration of justice. Legitimate advocacy respecting the foregoing factors does not violate paragraph (d). A trial judge’s finding that peremptory challenges were exercised on a discriminatory basis does not alone establish a violation of this rule.

[3a] The Standards of Professionalism and Civility approved by the Utah Supreme Court are intended to improve the administration of justice.  An egregious violation or a pattern of repeated violations of the Standards of Professionalism and Civility may support a finding that the lawyer has violated paragraph (d).

[4] A lawyer may refuse to comply with an obligation imposed by law upon a good faith belief that no valid obligation exists. The provisions of Rule 1.2(d) concerning a good faith challenge to the validity, scope, meaning or application of the law apply to challenges of legal regulation of the practice of law.

[5] Lawyers holding public office assume legal responsibilities going beyond those of other citizens. A lawyer’s abuse of public office can suggest an inability to fulfill the professional role of lawyers. The same is true of abuse of positions of private trust such as trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, agent and officer, director or manager of a corporation or other organization.
2020 Proposed Rule
It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to:

(g) engage in conduct that is an unlawful, discriminatory, or retaliatory employment practice under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or the Utah Antidiscrimination Act, except that for the purposes of this paragraph and in applying those statutes, “employer” shall mean any person or entity that employs one or more persons; or

(h) egregiously violate, or engage in a pattern of repeated violations of, Rule 14-301 if such violations harm the lawyer’s client or another lawyer’s client or are prejudicial to the administration of justice

2020 Proposed Comment
[3] A lawyer who, in the course of representing a client, knowingly manifests by words or conduct bias or prejudice based upon race; color; sex; pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related conditions; age, if the individual is 40 years of age or older; religion; national origin; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity; or genetic information may violate paragraph (d) when such actions are prejudicial to the administration of justice. The protected classes listed in this comment are consistent with those enumerated in the Utah Antidiscrimination Act of 1965, Utah Code Sec. 34A-5- 44 106(1)(a) (2016), and in federal statutes and is not meant to be an exhaustive list as the statutes may be amended from time to time. Legitimate advocacy respecting the foregoing factors does not violate paragraph (d). A trial judge’s finding that peremptory challenges were exercised on a discriminatory basis does not alone establish a violation of this rule.

[4] The substantive law of antidiscrimination and anti-harassment statutes and case law governs the application of paragraph (g), except that for purposes of determining a violation of paragraph (g), the size of a law firm or number of employees is not a defense. Paragraph (g) does not limit the ability of a lawyer to accept, decline, or, in accordance with Rule 1.16, withdraw from a representation, nor does paragraph (g) preclude legitimate advice or advocacy consistent with these rules. Discrimination or harassment does not need to be previously proven by a judicial or administrative tribunal or fact-finder in order to allege or prove a violation of paragraph (g). Lawyers may discuss the benefits and challenges of diversity and inclusion without violating paragraph (g). Unless otherwise prohibited by law, implementing or declining to implement initiatives aimed at recruiting, hiring, retaining, and advancing employees of diverse backgrounds or from historically underrepresented groups, or sponsoring diverse law student organizations, are not violations of paragraph (g).

[5] Paragraphs (g) and (h) do not apply to expression or conduct protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or by Article I of the Utah Constitution.

[6] A lawyer does not violate paragraph (g) by limiting the scope or subject matter of the lawyer’s practice or by limiting the lawyer’s practice to members of underserved populations in accordance with these Rules and other law. A lawyer may charge and collect reasonable fees and expenses for a representation. Rule 1.5(a). Lawyers also should be mindful of their professional obligations under Rule 6.1 to provide legal services to those who are unable to pay and their obligation under Rule 6.2 not to avoid appointments from a tribunal except for good cause. See Rule 6.2(a), (b), and (c). A lawyer’s representation of a client does not constitute an endorsement by the lawyer of the client’s views or activities. See Rule 1.2(b).

[9] This rule differs from ABA Model Rule 8.4 to the extent that it changes paragraph (g), adds new paragraph (h), and modifies the comments accordingly.

2020 Proposed USB14-301
3. Lawyers shall not, without an adequate factual basis, attribute to other counsel or the court improper motives, purpose, or conduct. Neither written submissions nor oral presentations shall disparage the integrity, intelligence, morals, ethics, or personal behavior of any person unless such matters are directly relevant under controlling substantive law.

Lawyers shall avoid hostile, demeaning, humiliating, or discriminatory conduct in law-related activities. Discriminatory conduct includes all discrimination against protected classes as those classes are enumerated in the Utah Antidiscrimination Act of 1965, Utah Code section 34A-5-106(1)(a), and federal statutes, as amended from time to time.

2020 Proposed Comment
Lawyers should refrain from expressing scorn, superiority, or disrespect. Legal process should not be issued merely to annoy, humiliate, intimidate, or harass. Special care should be taken to protect witnesses, especially those who are disabled or under the age of 18, from harassment or undue contention. Lawyers should refrain from acting upon or manifesting bigotry, discrimination, or prejudice toward any person in the legal process, even if a client requests it. Law-related activities include, but are not limited to, settlement negotiations; depositions; mediations; court appearances; CLE’s; events sponsored by the Bar, Bar sections, or Bar associations; and firm parties.
2019 Proposed Rule
It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to:

(g) engage in conduct that is an unlawful, discriminatory, or retaliatory employment practice under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or the Utah Antidiscrimination Act, except that for the purposes of this paragraph and in applying those statutes, “employer” shall mean any person or entity that employs one or more persons; or

(h) egregiously violate, or engage in a pattern of repeated violations, of the Standards of Professionalism and Civility if such violations harm the lawyer’s client or another lawyer’s client or are prejudicial to the administration of justice.

2019 Proposed Comment
[1a] An act of professional misconduct under Rule 8.4(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), or (h) cannot be counted as a separate violation of Rule 8.4(a) for the purpose of determining sanctions. Conduct that violates other Rules of Professional Conduct, however, may be a violation of Rule 8.4(a) for the purpose of determining sanctions.

[3] A lawyer who, in the course of representing a client, knowingly manifests by words or conduct bias or prejudice based upon race; color; sex; pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related conditions; age, if the individual is 40 years of age or older; religion; national origin; disability, sexual orientation; or genetic information may violate paragraph (d) when such actions are prejudicial to the administration of justice. The protected classes listed in this Comment are consistent with those enumerated in the Utah Antidiscrimination Act of 1965, Utah Code Sec. 34A-5-106(1)(a)(2016), and in federal statutes, and is not meant to be an exhaustive list as the statutes may be amended from time to time. Legitimate advocacy respecting the foregoing factors does not violate paragraph (d). A trial judge’s finding that peremptory challenges were exercised on a discriminatory basis does not alone establish a violation of paragraph (d).

[4] The substantive law of antidiscrimination and anti-harassment statutes and case law guides the application of paragraph (g), except that for purposes of determining a violation of paragraph (g), the size of a law firm or number of employees is not a defense. Paragraph (g) does not limit the ability of a lawyer to accept, decline, or in accordance with Rule 1.16, withdraw from a representation, nor does paragraph (g) preclude legitimate advice or advocacy consistent with these rules. Discrimination or harassment does not need to be previously proven by a judicial or administrative tribunal or fact-finder in order to allege or prove a violation of paragraph (g). Lawyers may engage in conduct undertaken to discuss diversity and inclusion, including any benefits and challenges, without violating paragraph (g). Implementing initiatives aimed at recruiting, hiring, retaining and advancing employees of diverse backgrounds or from historically underrepresented groups, or sponsoring diverse law student organizations, are not violations of paragraph (g).

[4a] Paragraph (g) does not apply to expression or conduct protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or by Article I of the Utah Constitution.

[5] A lawyer does not violate paragraph (g) by limiting the scope or subject matter of the lawyer’s practice or by limiting the lawyer’s practice to members of underserved populations in accordance with these Rules and other law. A lawyer may charge and collect reasonable fees and expenses for a representation. Rule 1.5(a). Lawyers also should be mindful of their professional obligations under Rule 6.1 to provide legal services to those who are unable to pay, and their obligation under Rule 6.2 not to avoid appointments from a tribunal except for good cause. See Rule 6.2(a), (b) and (c). A lawyer’s representation of a client does not constitute an endorsement by the lawyer of the client’s views or activities. See Rule 1.2(b).

[6] A lawyer may refuse to comply with an obligation imposed by law upon a good faith belief that no valid obligation exists. The provisions of Rule 1.2(d) concerning a good faith challenge to the validity, scope, meaning or application of the law apply to challenges of legal regulation of the practice of law.

[7] Lawyers holding public office assume legal responsibilities going beyond those of other citizens. A lawyer’s abuse of public office can suggest an inability to fulfill the professional role of lawyers. The same is true of abuse of positions of private trust such as trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, agent and officer, director or manager of a corporation or other organization.

[8] This rule differs from ABA Model Rule 8.4 to the extent that it changes paragraph (g), adds new paragraph (h), changes comments [3] and [4], and contains comments [1a] and [4a].
2017 Proposed Rule – ABA Model Rule 8.4(g)
It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to:

(g) engage in conduct that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know is harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or socioeconomic status in conduct related to the practice of law. This paragraph does not limit the ability of a lawyer to accept, decline or withdraw from a representation in accordance with Rule 1.16. This paragraph does not preclude legitimate advice or advocacy consistent with these Rules.

2017 Proposed Comment
[3] Discrimination and harassment by lawyers in violation of paragraph (g) undermine confidence in the legal profession and the legal system. Such discrimination includes harmful verbal or physical conduct that manifests bias or prejudice towards others. Harassment includes sexual harassment and derogatory or demeaning verbal or physical conduct. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. The substantive law of antidiscrimination and anti-harassment statutes and case law may guide application of paragraph (g).

[4] Conduct related to the practice of law includes representing clients; interacting with witnesses, coworkers, court personnel, lawyers and others while engaged in the practice of law; operating or managing a law firm or law practice; and participating in bar association, business or social activities in connection with the practice of law. Lawyers may engage in conduct undertaken to promote diversity and inclusion without violating this Rule by, for example, implementing initiatives aimed at recruiting, hiring, retaining and advancing diverse employees or sponsoring diverse law student organizations.[5] A trial judge’s finding that peremptory challenges were exercised on a discriminatory basis does not alone establish a violation of paragraph (g). A lawyer does not violate paragraph (g) by limiting the scope or subject matter of the lawyer’s practice or by limiting the lawyer’s practice to members of underserved populations in accordance with these Rules and other law. A lawyer may charge and collect reasonable fees and expenses for a representation. Rule 1.5(a). Lawyers also should be mindful of their professional obligations under Rule 6.1 to provide legal services to those who are unable to pay, and their obligation under Rule 6.2 not to avoid appointments from a tribunal except for good cause. See Rule 6.2(a), (b) and (c). A lawyer’s representation of a client does not constitute an endorsement by the lawyer of the client’s views or activities. See Rule 1.2(b).

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