Dear American Bar Assoc.: give Kavanaugh an ultimatum

[grumpyduck]

Okay, maybe ultimatum isn't the correct term. In any case, the ABA has standards of professional conduct which they do enforce. Given their response so far (and the Yale Law School's dean's comment), I think they should "threaten" something along the lines of temporarily disbarring him until there's an FBI investigation.

This idea is solely based on the fact that he refuses to have an investigation. Other than that, I'm okay with whatever the investigation reveals.

[HopeAgain]

1. ABA can't disbar anyone

It's a voluntary organization and has nothing to do with actually licensing attorneys -- that falls under the auspices of individual state bars. Also I don't believe you even have to be an attorney to be a S.C. Justice.

[Chickensoup]

2. Great idea !!!!!!

[hlthe2b]

3. NO. ABA has no authority like that. It is a professional org. Only State Bars can take action.

ABA is like AMA, AVMA, ADA--- these are all professional representative organizations and can make recommended standards, but have no regulatory authority.

[Big Blue Marble]

4. State Bar Associations license lawyers. N/T

[Jersey Devil]

6. No they don't

Bar Associations don't license or discipline anyone.

In each state the highest court (usually the state Supreme Court) appoints lawyers to ethics committees, usually on a county basis. Those committees rule on ethics violations alleged against lawyers. There are also judicial ethics committees for judges with judges as members.

[Big Blue Marble]

7. While there is variance, it is often the state bars that investigate and discipline lawyers.

You are correct about New Jersey and several other states in your neighborhood, but not all states.

https://hirealawyer.findlaw.com/choosing-the-right-lawyer/researching-attorney-discipline.html

[WeekiWater]

5. This would have to come from a State Bar...

Or the state licencing agency. I think there are a handful of states who use the Bar for examinations and other agencies for disciplinary action. Like a DBPR

[grumpyduck]

8. Thanks for theclarification.

I stand corrected.