Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility | Open Access Articles

Due Process And Local Administrative Hearings Regulating Public Nuisances: Analysis And Reform., Alex Cameron

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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A Judicial And Economic Analysis Of Attorney's Fees In Trust Litigation And The Resulting Inequitable Treatment Of Trust Beneficiaries., Charles Epps Ipock

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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Removal Of Independent Executors: Examining The Standard In Texas After The Addition Of Material Conflict Of Interest To Section 149c Of The Texas Probate Code., Elizabeth R. Kopecki

St. Mary's Law Journal

The State of Texas permits independent executors to operate with minimal court supervision. This allows executors to administer an estate with as little cost and delay as possible. Sometimes executors abuse this limited supervision and fail to manage estates properly. Fortunately, there are particular circumstances outlined in the Texas Probate Code which allow courts to step in and remove these harmful executors. Since the adoption of section 149C to the Texas Probate Code, grounds for removal have remained relatively specific. Recently, the legislature has added a new ground: “material conflict of interest.” Though no bright-line rule exists, there is precedent …

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Inheritance Rights Of Posthumously Conceived Children In Texas Comment., Allison Stewart Ellis

St. Mary's Law Journal

The Texas Legislature should update its legislation pertaining to posthumously conceived children. More than 20,000 children are born from artificial insemination each year, some of whom are conceived following their father’s death. Whether or not these children are entitled to a share in their father’s estate is a question for each state legislature. Many states have adopted a version of the Uniform Parentage Act (UPA). The UPA states that once paternity of a posthumously conceived child is established, the child is entitled to inherit from the deceased’s estate. Texas has adopted the UPA in part and has added stringent requirements …

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Consumer Bankruptcy Policy: Ability To Pay And Catholic Social Teaching Essay., Richard Flint

St. Mary's Law Journal

An essay is presented on consumer bankruptcy policy in the U.S. It informs about the significant changes in the consumer bankruptcy introduced by the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 including incorporation of an ability-to-pay test as a requirement for getting the benefits of the act. It reviews the Catholic social teaching related to the interrelationship between the dignity of man and his rights and duties to promote justice and the common good.

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In-House But Out In The Cold: A Comparison Of The Attorney-Client Privilege In The United States And European Union Comment., Andrew R. Nash

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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Can Immune Parties Really Be Responsible: An Analysis Of The Current Interpretation Of The Texas Responsible Third Party Statute And Its Vulnerability To Constitutional Challenge., Justin C. Roberts, Randell Roberts

St. Mary's Law Journal

The Texas Responsible Third Party (RTP) statute was amended in 2003 to give defendants the opportunity to have the jury apportion responsibility for the plaintiff’s damages to persons who were not joined in the lawsuit. A defendant could achieve this result by designating a “responsible third party.” Plaintiffs may often join responsible third parties as additional defendants. Under such situations, all culpable parties are before the court, defending themselves, and accountable to the plaintiff for their percentage of responsibility. When the statute worked in this fashion it achieved “a carefully constructed scheme balancing the interests of both defendants and claimants.” …

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Marsh Usa Inc. V. Cook: One Final Step Away From Light., Michael D. Paul

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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Texas's Spoliation Presumption., Rebecca Simmons, Michael J. Ritter

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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Administrative Procedure For The Twenty-First Century: An Introduction To The 2010 Model State Administrative Procedure Act., John Gedid

St. Mary's Law Journal

The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (ULC) approved the Revised Model State Administrative Procedure Act (2010 MSAPA) in 2010. The model state administrative procedure acts (APA) have been one of the most successful endeavors of the ULC. They have played a major role in encouraging states to incorporate concepts of fairness into state agency procedure statutes and to make express provisions for judicial review of administrative action. Those states that adopted the model acts accomplished fairness goals while bringing efficiency and accuracy into the state administrative process. By providing an overview of the Act’s new features, this …

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War Powers Pursuant To False Perceptions And Asymmetric Information In The Zone Of Twilight., Robert Bejesky

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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No Paradise To Regain: Comments On Russell G. Pearce And Eli Wald, The Obligation Of Lawyers To Heal Civic Culture: Confronting The Ordeal Of Incivility In The Practice Of Law, Kenneth S. Gallant

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review

No abstract provided.

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Race Bias And The Importance Of Consciousness For Criminal Defense Attorneys, Andrea D. Lyon

Seattle University Law Review

This Article will begin with a discussion of race bias and will examine who in the criminal justice system has such biases. These concepts will provide a backdrop to the next Part, where I will turn to an analysis about the need for criminal defense lawyers to be conscious of race bias. I focus on two specific circumstances in which awareness of one’s own racial bias is imperative: interacting with clients and voir dire. But first, we must come to an understanding about the nature of race bias itself.

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Mar. 2, 2011, Tnc Comments On Ifc Performance Standard 6-Version 2, Ifc

IFC E&S Performance Standards

No abstract provided.

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Jan. 10, 2011, Ifc, Review-Update Policy And Performance Standards, Ifc

IFC E&S Performance Standards

No abstract provided.

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Issues Concerning Charges For Driving While Intoxicated In Texas Federal Courts., Brian L. Owsley

St. Mary's Law Journal

Each year numerous defendants appear in courts located in Texas, both state and federal, charged with offenses related to driving while intoxicated (DWI). Defendants appearing before state courts are prosecuted pursuant to Texas statutes, regulations, and binding case law. In certain circumstances, defendants appearing in federal courts face the same statutory elements of a crime and the same potential penalties as in a Texas state court. In many of the cases, however, statutory elements and potential penalties differ. Furthermore, certain rights and regulations afforded to Texas state defendants are unavailable to those charged in federal courts located in the state. …

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Home Sweet Homestead - Not If You Are Subject To A Mandatory Homeowners' Association., Bridget M. Fuselier

St. Mary's Law Journal

Changes must be made to current Texas laws to strike a proper balance between the homeowners’ rights and the homeowners association’s (HOA) rights. The Texas Supreme Court’s decision in Inwood North Homeowners’ Ass’n v. Harris allows liens to attach to what would otherwise be considered homestead-protected property. Although the promise in Inwood was set forth in writing, touched and concerned the land, was intended to run with the land, and was properly recorded, that did not create a contractual lien. The court, however, incorrectly combined the concepts of liens and covenants. Furthermore, the court seemed to ignore the important and …

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What Happened: Confronting Confrontation In The Wake Of Bullcoming, Bryant, And Crawford., Dibrell Waldrip, Sara M. Berkeley

St. Mary's Law Journal

Crawford v. Washington and its progeny demonstrate the difficulty of delineating both the core and the perimeter of the Confrontation Clause. Crawford abrogated Ohio v. Roberts, forcing trial lawyers to re-evaluate the use of various types of hearsay formerly admitted upon a finding of adequate “indicia of reliability.” Later the Court issued two decisions further altering the contours of Confrontation Clause jurisprudence. Michigan v. Bryant and Bullcoming v. New Mexico. With these options, the old Roberts “indicia of reliability” test transformed into the new “primary purpose” test to identify certain testimonial statements. By significantly altering the contours of Confrontation Clause …

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Limiting The Foreclosure Power Of Texas Hoas With A Percentage Threshold Comment., Laci Ehlers

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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A Shift In Power: Why Increased Urban Drilling Necessitates A Change In Regulatory Authority Comment., Riley W. Vanham

St. Mary's Law Journal

Historically, Texas has boasted a very lucrative oil and gas industry, which has been vital to the state’s successful economy. Due to increased drilling in urban areas, particularly the Barnett Shale, the number of affected surface owners multiplied overnight, attracting attention to oil and gas issues. Legislation has been purported to remedy the longtime conflict in Texas property law caused by the dominance of the mineral estate over the surface estate. But no bill has passed having major policy-change implications. Currently, local governments freely adopt and enforce oil and gas regulations. These ordinances vary from city-to-city, creating inconsistencies for operators …

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Professional Responsibility For The Pro Se Attorney., Margaret Raymond

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

This Article considers how pro se lawyers should be treated under the law of professional responsibility. While courts have addressed whether various aspects of the law of lawyering should be applied to lawyers acting pro se, they have not done so systematically. The Article first demonstrates that the law is not consistent in its treatment of pro se lawyers. It then argues that a purpose-based approach to the issue provides a consistent, rational, and reproducible way to analyze the question. It concludes that whether a particular rule of professional responsibility should apply to a pro se lawyer should be driven …

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A Synopsis Of Texas And Federal Sovereign Immunity Principles: Are Recent Sovereign Immunity Decisions Protecting Wrongful Governmental Conduct., Marilyn Phelan

St. Mary's Law Journal

The Texas Supreme Court recently rendered several decisions involving governmental entities reflecting the court’s inflexible application of the doctrine of sovereign immunity. These decisions raise concerns that the Court may be insulating government employees from adherence to ethical codes of conduct. Just as Congress enacted legislation requiring accuracy and reliability from financial officers of corporations, there exists a similar need for Texas courts to protect the public from governmental harm through misconduct. The current awareness of governmental officials lessens the likelihood of governmental transparency and accountability. This Article analyzes the Court’s current application of the sovereign immunity doctrine to provide …

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Legal Malpractice Litigation And The Duty To Report Misconduct., Vincent R. Johnson

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

Lawyers participating in legal malpractice litigation sometimes encounter evidence of serious disciplinary rule violations. Whether, and how soon, those lawyers are required to report this information to grievance authorities is a question that has received little attention from courts and scholars, despite the fact that most states have mandatory reporting rules. The dilemma for lawyers serving as testifying experts is particularly troublesome because nonreporting may result not only in discipline, but testimonial impeachment. The better view is that an expert in a pending case ordinarily has no mandatory obligation to report misconduct. This conclusion is supported by an analysis of …

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Ethically Handling The Receipt Of Possibly Privileged Information., James M. Fischer

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

Inadvertently sent e-mails that contain privileged information, material negligently included in a discovery response, or employer's documents taken by a whistle-blower all share a common theme-the materials were not intended to be disclosed to the opposing party. This Article makes two contentions. First, all unintended disclosures should be treated under a single standard that asks whether the privilege holder exercised reasonable care in maintaining the confidentiality of the materials. Second, with respect to the receiving lawyer's professional obligations, a lawyer who receives materials that may be privileged should be allowed to read the materials: (1) to determine whether the materials …

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Practical Ethics For The Professional Prosecutor., Enrico B. Valdez

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

In Brady v. Maryland, the United States Supreme Court held that the prosecution's withholding of material exculpatory evidence violated the defendant's due process rights regardless of the absence of bad faith. The implications of this duty can be seen in the case of John Thompson, a man who was convicted of murder in Louisiana in 1985 after the prosecution failed to turn over exculpatory evidence. Thompson was able to get his conviction reversed and subsequently sued the district attorney's office. This Article analyzes Brady and the decisions that followed it to outline the obligations of prosecutors who are in possession …

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Circular 230: New Rules Governing Practice Before The Irs., C. John Muller Iv

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

This Article addresses the issue of tax preparer oversight. Currently, anyone may prepare a tax return for a fee. However, those preparers who are not lawyers, certified public accountants, or authorized to practice before the IRS are not required to meet a minimum standard of education, knowledge, training, or skill. After recent government studies revealed that these non-trained tax return preparers were making costly, egregious mistakes, the IRS proposed mandating oversight over any individual who prepares a tax return for compensation. This Article discusses, in depth, the Department of the Treasury's proposed regulations to broaden the authorities of IRS Circular …

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In Re Steven J. Lever, Stephanie A. Ackerman

NYLS Law Review

No abstract provided.

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From Hero To Villain: The Corresponding Evolutions Of Model Ethical Codes And The Portrayal Of Lawyers In Film, Amy S. Beard

NYLS Law Review

No abstract provided.

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The Constitutionality Of Collateral Post-Conviction Claims Of Actual Innocence Comment., Craig M. Jacobs

St. Mary's Law Journal

The notion that the state can punish innocent people disrupts public confidence in the usefulness of the criminal justice system. If, by legislative design, the criminal justice system is not concerned with or is accepting of situations where innocent people are punished by the state, should courts take immediate action? Once criminal defendants exhaust the appellate process, Supreme Court Justices have stated, federal courts should not hear claims of actual innocence. Such statements are supported by the federal habeas corpus statute as amended by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA). AEDPA requires federal habeas courts to …

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Respecting The Concept And Limited Liability Of A Series Llc In Texas Comment., Bernie R. Kray

St. Mary's Law Journal

The primary advantage of a limited liability company (LLC) is to shield owners from personal liability for the contract and tort obligations of their business entities. To further protect business assets, practitioners often advised clients to form multiple LLCs, each containing single assets. Yet, business owners managing multiple assets and LLCs often found this approach ineffective and cost-prohibitive. Allowing for a single “master” LLC to compartmentalize different series of properties without the need for a distinct holding company, the “series” LLC was the next step. The series LLC permits companies to partition assets and liabilities among various cells or “series,” …

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Full-Text Articles in Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility

Due Process And Local Administrative Hearings Regulating Public Nuisances: Analysis And Reform., Alex Cameron

St. Mary's Law Journal

A Judicial And Economic Analysis Of Attorney's Fees In Trust Litigation And The Resulting Inequitable Treatment Of Trust Beneficiaries., Charles Epps Ipock

St. Mary's Law Journal

Removal Of Independent Executors: Examining The Standard In Texas After The Addition Of Material Conflict Of Interest To Section 149c Of The Texas Probate Code., Elizabeth R. Kopecki

St. Mary's Law Journal

Inheritance Rights Of Posthumously Conceived Children In Texas Comment., Allison Stewart Ellis

St. Mary's Law Journal

Consumer Bankruptcy Policy: Ability To Pay And Catholic Social Teaching Essay., Richard Flint

St. Mary's Law Journal

In-House But Out In The Cold: A Comparison Of The Attorney-Client Privilege In The United States And European Union Comment., Andrew R. Nash

St. Mary's Law Journal

Can Immune Parties Really Be Responsible: An Analysis Of The Current Interpretation Of The Texas Responsible Third Party Statute And Its Vulnerability To Constitutional Challenge., Justin C. Roberts, Randell Roberts

St. Mary's Law Journal

Marsh Usa Inc. V. Cook: One Final Step Away From Light., Michael D. Paul

St. Mary's Law Journal

Texas's Spoliation Presumption., Rebecca Simmons, Michael J. Ritter

St. Mary's Law Journal

Administrative Procedure For The Twenty-First Century: An Introduction To The 2010 Model State Administrative Procedure Act., John Gedid

St. Mary's Law Journal

War Powers Pursuant To False Perceptions And Asymmetric Information In The Zone Of Twilight., Robert Bejesky

St. Mary's Law Journal

No Paradise To Regain: Comments On Russell G. Pearce And Eli Wald, The Obligation Of Lawyers To Heal Civic Culture: Confronting The Ordeal Of Incivility In The Practice Of Law, Kenneth S. Gallant

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review

Race Bias And The Importance Of Consciousness For Criminal Defense Attorneys, Andrea D. Lyon

Seattle University Law Review

Mar. 2, 2011, Tnc Comments On Ifc Performance Standard 6-Version 2, Ifc

IFC E&S Performance Standards

Jan. 10, 2011, Ifc, Review-Update Policy And Performance Standards, Ifc

IFC E&S Performance Standards

Issues Concerning Charges For Driving While Intoxicated In Texas Federal Courts., Brian L. Owsley

St. Mary's Law Journal

Home Sweet Homestead - Not If You Are Subject To A Mandatory Homeowners' Association., Bridget M. Fuselier

St. Mary's Law Journal

What Happened: Confronting Confrontation In The Wake Of Bullcoming, Bryant, And Crawford., Dibrell Waldrip, Sara M. Berkeley

St. Mary's Law Journal

Limiting The Foreclosure Power Of Texas Hoas With A Percentage Threshold Comment., Laci Ehlers

St. Mary's Law Journal

A Shift In Power: Why Increased Urban Drilling Necessitates A Change In Regulatory Authority Comment., Riley W. Vanham

St. Mary's Law Journal

Professional Responsibility For The Pro Se Attorney., Margaret Raymond

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

A Synopsis Of Texas And Federal Sovereign Immunity Principles: Are Recent Sovereign Immunity Decisions Protecting Wrongful Governmental Conduct., Marilyn Phelan

St. Mary's Law Journal

Legal Malpractice Litigation And The Duty To Report Misconduct., Vincent R. Johnson

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

Ethically Handling The Receipt Of Possibly Privileged Information., James M. Fischer

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

Practical Ethics For The Professional Prosecutor., Enrico B. Valdez

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

Circular 230: New Rules Governing Practice Before The Irs., C. John Muller Iv

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

In Re Steven J. Lever, Stephanie A. Ackerman

NYLS Law Review

From Hero To Villain: The Corresponding Evolutions Of Model Ethical Codes And The Portrayal Of Lawyers In Film, Amy S. Beard

NYLS Law Review

The Constitutionality Of Collateral Post-Conviction Claims Of Actual Innocence Comment., Craig M. Jacobs

St. Mary's Law Journal

Respecting The Concept And Limited Liability Of A Series Llc In Texas Comment., Bernie R. Kray

St. Mary's Law Journal