The Supreme Court of South Carolina
O R D E R
The Attorney General of South Carolina
has initiated a program that will utilize lawyers, on a pro bono basis,
to assist in the prosecution of criminal domestic violence cases in magistrate's
and municipal courts. Because the prosecution allowed in these cases is very
limited in nature and scope, neither a lawyer who participates in this program
nor the lawyer's firm is prohibited, under Rules 1.7 and 1.10 of the Rules of
Professional Conduct, Rule 407, SCACR, from representing clients in criminal
matters or civil matters unrelated to any case the lawyer has prosecuted unless
the lawyer or the lawyer's firm is disqualified for some other reason.
This Court is currently considering comprehensive amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct in light of amendments made to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct by the American Bar Association following a study and evaluation of the rules by the ABA Ethics 2000 Commission. Any broader issues related to Rules 1.7 and 1.10 will be considered by the Court during this process and any necessary amendments to the rules will be made, along with amendments to the remaining Rules of Professional, when the Court concludes its review process.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Jean H. Toal C.J. s/John H. Waller, Jr. J. s/E. C. Burnett, III J. s/Costa M. Pleicones J. Moore, J., not participating |
Columbia, South Carolina
January 7, 2004