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W.D. Ky. LR 83.3

Attorney Discipline

activein force · 2026-09-19 – presentact-effective-date

(a) Discipline Generally. Any attorney practicing before the Court is subject

to discipline by the Court upon a showing that:

(1) The attorney is currently suspended or disbarred by any admitting

or licensing authority; or

(2) The attorney is guilty of unprofessional conduct in the matter

pending before the Court.

(b) Discipline By Admitting or Licensing Authority; Procedure.

(1) Attorney’s Duty to Notify. An attorney practicing before the Court

who is publicly reprimanded, suspended or disbarred by any

admitting or licensing authority must inform the Clerk in writing of

the public reprimand, suspension or disbarment, within ten (10) days

after the effective date of any such public reprimand, suspension, or

disbarment.

(2) Automatic Reciprocal Discipline; Discretion to Enhance Discipline.

Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, any such attorney who has

been suspended or disbarred by any admitting or licensing authority,

whether by suspension, revocation, or disbarment, shall

automatically forfeit his or her right to practice law before this Court

during the same period that such attorney has been prohibited from

practicing law by such other licensing authority, or, under the

Court’s discretion, for a greater period of time. The Clerk of Court

shall send a written notice to the attorney, together with a copy of

this section of the Local Rules, informing the attorney of the

forfeiture of his or her right to practice law before this court. Any

failure or delay with regard to the sending of such notice shall not

affect the automatic forfeiture provisions of this section.

(3) Grounds for Challenge. Within thirty (30) days after the effective

date of any suspension or disbarment by any admitting or licensing

authority, the attorney may file a written challenge to the reciprocal

discipline imposed under section (2). To conclude that the entry of

some other order is appropriate, the Court must find that the record

underlying the attorney’s suspension or disbarment clearly indicates

that:

(A) the procedure was so lacking in notice or opportunity to be

heard as to constitute a deprivation of due process;

(B) the proof establishing the misconduct was so infirm that the

Court could not – consistent with its duty – accept the conclusion of

the admitting or licensing authority as final;

(C) the Court’s disqualification of the attorney would result in grave

injustice; or

(D) the Court concludes that the misconduct underlying the

attorney’s suspension or disbarment warrants substantially different

discipline.

(4) Finality of the Action of the Admitting or Licensing Authority.

Unless the Court determines that one of the grounds contained in (3)

above exists, the admitting or licensing authority’s final

adjudication of attorney misconduct conclusively establishes the

misconduct for purposes of this Court’s discipline.

(5) Reinstatement. Upon reinstatement of an attorney by any admitting

or licensing authority, the attorney shall provide to the Clerk of

Court written notice from the admitting or licensing authority

confirming the reinstatement. The Clerk of Court shall then transmit

the confirmation to the Chief Judge who shall determine whether the

attorney may be reinstated to practice before the Court.

(c) Discipline for Unprofessional and Improper Conduct. If it appears to

the Court that an attorney practicing before the Court has violated the rules

of the Kentucky Supreme Court governing professional conduct or is guilty

of other conduct unbecoming an officer of the Court, any judge may order

an attorney to show cause -- within a specified time -- why the Court should

not discipline the attorney. Upon the expiration of the period specified or

upon the attorney’s response to the show cause order, the Court will enter

an appropriate order. If requested by the responding attorney, the Court will

conduct a hearing prior to determining the appropriate order.

(d) Discipline for Contempt. Disbarment from the Court may be utilized as a

sanction for contempt of court under the procedures contained in Federal

Rule of Criminal Procedure 42. Nothing in this rule shall limit the Court’s

power to punish contempt.

Provenance

Source
www.kywd.uscourts.gov
Retrieved
2026-09-18
Edition
fed-district-2026-09-19
Content hash
58b0b6d1cb4cdd7c912394865d5379d8ac2a11becfdec29fd4472319cfbe0548
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W.D. Ky. LR 83.3 — Attorney Discipline · binding.law