For Lawyers
Proposed Amendments to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct
The Supreme Court of Texas has ordered a referendum on proposed amendments to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and the Interpretive Comments to the rules.
Background on the amendment process
The amendments are the product of extensive debate by the Court, the Task Force on the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and State Bar's Committee on the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct.
Overall the amendments are intended to enhance the public's protection, provide better guidance to lawyers, reflect current practices, and clarify disciplinary standards to reduce uncertainty and improve lawyers' compliance with these standards. The principal objective in that is protecting the legal profession's integrity.
The State Bar of Texas held a special meeting of its board of directors on Nov. 5, 2010, at the Texas Law Center to finalize recommendations to the Supreme Court of Texas regarding proposed amendments to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. The final proposed amendments and proposed referendum ballot and timeline are posted below. These materials will be submitted to the Supreme Court of Texas on Nov. 8, 2010. If you have questions or concerns, email rcantu@texasbar.com.
To provide input on the proposed amendments, please leave a comment on Texas Bar Blog.
Final Proposed Amendments - Nov. 5, 2010
Letter to the Supreme Court from State Bar of Texas President Tottenham [PDF]
Petition for Referendum on Proposed Amendments [PDF]
Final Proposed TDRPC Amendments [PDF]
Proposed Referendum Ballot [PDF]
Proposed Referendum Timeline [PDF]
Preliminary Proposed Amendments
Redlined proposed amendments to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and interpretive comments, excluding Rules 1.06-1.09 [approved Oct. 1, 2010] [PDF]
Redlined Proposed Rules 1.06 - 1.09 [Oct. 1, 2010] [PDF]
Overview of Proposed Amendments [PDF]
Board DCAAP Committee Recommendations [PDF]
Comparison Table: Current and Proposed Rules 1.06 - 1.09 [PDF]
Public Education Hearing Schedule
Schedule of statewide public education hearings [PDF]
Public Education Hearing Blog Posts and Audio
(for best results, right-click and select "Save Target As" to download)
Lubbock (8/30/10) - Blog post | MP3 audio
El Paso (8/31/10) - Blog post | MP3 audio
Houston (9/1/10) - Blog post | MP3 audio
Tyler (9/2/10) - Blog post | MP3 audio
Dallas (9/3/10) - Blog post | MP3 audio
Corpus Christi (9/7/10) - Blog post | MP3 audio
McAllen (9/8/10) - Blog post | MP3 audio
San Antonio (9/9/10) - Blog post | MP3 audio
Austin (9/10/10) - Blog post | MP3 audio
Dallas (meeting on conflicts rules, 10/20/10) - Blog post | MP3 audio
Contact Us
If you have questions or comments, please contact Ray Cantu, ray.cantu@texasbar.com or (800)204-2222, Ext. 1506.
Public Input
Open letter from Tom "Smitty"Smith [PDF]
Public Citizen Letter to Supreme Court of Texas [PDF]
Letter regarding Proposed Rule 1.13 [PDF]
Letters regarding Proposed Rule 3.05 [PDF]
Letter from the Texas Coalition on Lawyer Accountability [PDF]
Ex Parte Issues in the Administrative Setting: Opinion No. 587 and Proposed Changes to Rule 3.05, Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, Exhibit A
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Related Information
Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure (Effective 1/1/10) [PDF]
Download the rules.
Client Security Fund
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Grievance Oversight Committee of the Texas Supreme Court
The Grievance Oversight Committee is a panel of volunteers comprised of six attorneys and three members of the public appointed by the Texas Supreme Court. The Committee is charged with reviewing the operation of the attorney-client grievance process and reporting its observations and recommendations to the Court.
Commission For Lawyer Discipline and Annual Report
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