how to file a complaint against district attorney in pennsylvania

Alternatively, you may download a complaint form to submit via mail or fax to the district office in which the attorney practices . Along with the complaint form, please submit relevant documents and information. Copies of canceled checks or evidence of any payments made by you to the attorney.

Full Answer

How do I file a complaint against an attorney in PA?

ONLINE. To file a complaint, fill out the electronic form below. For FAQs related to the complaint process, click here. MAIL. If you prefer, you can print the fillable English-language complaint form found here. After signing the completed form, mail it directly to the district office where the attorney practices.

How do I file a disciplinary action against a PA Supreme Court?

You may request a Statement of Complaint Form by mail, by calling the Professional Compliance Office Hotline at 1-800-822-2113 (if you are calling from within Pennsylvania) or at 1-717-783-4854 (if you are calling from outside Pennsylvania).

What does the Pennsylvania Department of State do for licensing complaints?

Complaint Information. Please explain your complaint: Try to be brief, but be sure to tell WHAT happened, WHEN it happened and WHERE it happened. Be specific about any oral statements the business made to you, ESPECIALLY those that influenced you to deal with the company, including how you heard about the company.

Do all PA Bar Association complaints result in disciplinary action?

*All complaints must be made in writing. No complaints will be taken over the telephone or via the internet. Complaint Form – Click Here! (Microsoft Word) Complaint Form – Click Here! (Adobe Acrobat) Our mailing address is: Judicial Conduct Board Pennsylvania Judicial Center 601 Commonwealth Ave, Suite 3500 P.O. Box 62525 Harrisburg, Pa 17120-0901

How do I file a complaint with the PA Attorney General?

WHEN SHOULD YOU FILE A COMPLAINT You can download a complaint form from our website at www.attorneygeneral.gov or you can call our toll-free number, 1.800. 441.2555, to have a form mailed to you.

How do you file a grievance on the basis of unethical behavior?

Filing an attorney complaint You may also call the State Bar's multilingual intake hotline at 800-843-9053 (in California) or 213-765-1200 (outside California) to request a complaint form or discuss the complaint-filing process. There is no fee for filing a complaint, and you do not have to be a U.S. citizen.

How do I get in touch with the PA Attorney General?

You should contact our Bureau of Consumer Protection at [email protected] or phone at 1-800-441-2555.

What is unethical for a lawyer?

Attorney misconduct may include: conflict of interest, overbilling, refusing to represent a client for political or professional motives, false or misleading statements, knowingly accepting worthless lawsuits, hiding evidence, abandoning a client, failing to disclose all relevant facts, arguing a position while ...

What is the most common complaint against lawyers?

Perhaps the most common kinds of complaints against lawyers involve delay or neglect. This doesn't mean that occasionally you've had to wait for a phone call to be returned. It means there has been a pattern of the lawyer's failing to respond or to take action over a period of months.

What are common sanctions for violating ethical practices for attorneys?

The most common penalties for violating ethical rules are disbarment, suspension, and public or private censure. Disbarment is the revocation of an attorney's state license, permanently rendering the attorney unqualified to practice law.

Who is AG in PA?

Josh Shapiro (Democratic Party)Pennsylvania / Attorney generalJoshua David Shapiro is an American lawyer and politician serving as the attorney general of Pennsylvania. He previously served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and as chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Wikipedia

Can you sue a township in PA?

Similarly to the rules for suing the state, you can also sue a municipality, such as the local housing authority, if the accident involved: ... Personal property in the care, custody, or control of the municipality. Real estate property in the care, custody, or control of the municipality.Jul 22, 2020

Who is the assistant attorney general of Pennsylvania?

Michelle Henry, a 20-year veteran prosecutor, is First Deputy Attorney General, responsible for overseeing all legal, criminal and civil matters in the Office of Attorney General....Office of Public Engagement.Attorney GeneralTook officeLeft officeJosh ShapiroJanuary 17, 2017present12 more rows

What are examples of ethics violations?

Ethics violations such as discrimination, safety violations, poor working conditions and releasing proprietary information are other examples. Situations such as bribery, forgery and theft, while certainly ethically improper, cross over into criminal activity and are often dealt with outside the company.Aug 14, 2015

Can I sue a lawyer for lying?

The rules of legal ethics in most states require attorneys to be honest and to be able to do their job at a certain level of competence. If you feel that your legal representative has lied or misled you, or is performing their duties at a level below that of a competent attorney, you may want to file a lawsuit.May 8, 2020

What are some examples of unethical behavior?

5 Most Common Unethical Behaviors Ethics Resource Center (ERC) SurveyMisuse of company time. Whether it is covering for someone who shows up late or altering a timesheet, misusing company time tops the list. ... Abusive Behavior. ... Employee Theft. ... Lying to employees. ... Violating Company Internet Policies.Jul 2, 2016

What is disciplinary action?

Disciplinary actions are a matter of public record and are subject to release by the Department of State's Office of Communications and Press to various news agencies in the Commonwealth.

How many professional and occupational licensing boards are there in Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania Department of State receives complaints concerning the licensees and registrants of the following 29 professional and occupational licensing boards & commissions regulated by the Department's Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs.

Your Information

By providing your email address, you agree to receive email communications from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.

Complaint Information

Please explain your complaint: Try to be brief, but be sure to tell WHAT happened, WHEN it happened and WHERE it happened. Be specific about any oral statements the business made to you, ESPECIALLY those that influenced you to deal with the company, including how you heard about the company. Describe events in the order in which they happened.

Do I have to identify myself when I file a complaint?

No, but it is strongly encouraged that you do. Although the Board does accept anonymous complaints, they are much more difficult to investigate.

Filing a Complaint by Mail

There are two versions of our Request for Investigation form available. The first version is for Microsoft Word. If you have Microsoft Word, open the complaint form. You can then fill out most (all but date and signature) of the form in Word, Print It, Sign It, and Mail it to us.

What are the four types of misconduct in a prosecutor?

Academically speaking, there are four types of widely recognized prosecutor misconduct: Offering inadmissible evidence in court. Suppressing evidence from the defense.

What is a lawyer's hotline?

The hotline is only for members of the bar to request an assessment of their own options in complicated situations. Complaints of misconduct are appropriate when a lawyer is breaking the law or engaging in deceptive conduct or provides such poor-quality service that his clients suffer because of it.

What are the gray areas in law?

Legitimate gray areas exist when it comes to practicing law that might require a lawyer to violate one rule to uphold more important responsibilities. Ethical quandaries are commonplace in the profession and the reason behind the PA Disciplinary Board Ethics Hotline.

Can the PA Bar Association opt for public or private disciplinary measures against an offending lawyer?

The Pennsylvania Bar Association Disciplinary Board can opt for public or private disciplinary measures against an offending lawyer. When consumers request information about a member of the PA Bar Association, complaints and public disciplinary measures are reported. Also, this information is not available through the PA Disciplinary Board Ethics ...

What is the PA law on private criminal complaints?

Pennsylvania law allows for private citizens to file Private Criminal Complaints through its Court system with certain restrictions which are detailed in Title 42 Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure (Pa.R.Crim.P) Rule 420 (Summary Violations), Rules 504 (Contents of Complaint) and Rule 506 (Approval for Private Complaints).

What happens if you don't contact the police department?

If you haven’t contacted the police department with jurisdiction for the matter (either state or local police) your referral will be denied and referred to police for investigation. Once you have reviewed these forms and documents you will be in a better position to understand and successfully complete the process.

Can you petition the court of common pleas for a review of a complaint?

Individuals whose complaints have been disapproved have the right to petition the court of common pleas for a review of the decision. You must first seek assistance from police for misdemeanor or felony charges.

Does the District Attorney review a complaint?

The District Attorney’s Office does not review a Summary Complaint. A summary offense would include “Disorderly Conduct”, “Harassment”, and other minor crimes. Citizens are directed to the following web site for guidance in identifying the proper Magisterial District Justice for their Private Criminal Complaint: ...

Clifford Blair Cohn

While I agree with the other attorneys that there is unlikely any civil action against the assistant district attorney, as they have immunity, and your interests in having your conviction overturned may be paramount, all prosecutors are attorneys and as such are governed by the Rules of Professional Conduct.

David Frederick Barrett

And you might also complain to the assistant's supervisor -- even the DA him or herself. No one ever believes me but many DA's have high ethical standards and will counsel or discipline assistants who are out of line.#N#But don't do anything along those lines until your attorney says to or you have exhausted your legal options.

William A. Jones Jr

I agree with Mr. Crawford, and it seems your focus is misdirected. Going after the ADA is not going to change your case's disposition. There may be post-sentencing remedies available that could effect a change in the ultimate disposition of your case. That seems to me to be a more constructive expenditure of time, energy, and money.#N#More

Stewart C Crawford Jr

Generally, prosecutors have immunity so a complaint for civil damages (outside of the context of your criminal trial) might not be feasible. Within the context of your criminal trial, you have a host of devices available to you (e.g., due process violations, suppression, motions in limine, discovery motions).

Christine C McCall

It depends on the nature of the unprofessional conduct you are complaining about. In all events, you can write a letter of complaint directly to your County District Attorney. Your letter will get assigned for investigation and response. Some but not all allegations of unprofessional conduct can merit State Bar attention as well.

Philip Douglas Cave

If this relates to an ongoing case which is still in court, this might be a matter your defense lawyer can raise with the judge in a motion or in a request for sanctions in the ongoing trial.