Iowa Supreme Court Sides With HALT

On August 26, 2011, the Iowa Supreme Court rejected a proposal offered by the Office of Professional Regulation that would have allowed lawyers who voluntarily agree to be suspended to keep the reason for their suspension confidential.

"The Court's decision to give this anti-consumer proposal the boot before it could even be distributed for public comment is very promising," said HALT Executive Director Rodd Santomauro. "HALT has long supported increased transparency in lawyer discipline systems and applauds the Iowa Supreme Court's quick action."

According to a new HALT study, Iowa is one of 21 states that provide online access to court decisions or case briefs associated with attorney disciplinary proceedings. Thirty states give legal consumers absolutely no information about the details of an attorney's misconduct.

The Iowa Office of Professional Regulation has now been tasked by the Court to come up with proposals that actually increase consumer protection. Those proposals will be released for public comment before the Court takes final action.


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Iowa Supreme Court Sides With HALT