An article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  questions whether Pennsylvania is becoming stricter about re-admittance of disbarred attorneys.  In the past, once attorneys had paid their penalty for wrongdoings, many would be able to have their law license reinstated.  However, with state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin facing a criminal trial and the Luzerne County “kids-for-cash” scandal, some argue that there is more pressure for discipline. 
 
In 2011, out of thirteen attorneys seeking reinstatement, the Disciplinary Board denied one attorney.  In 2010, out of nine attorneys seeking reinstatement, none were denied.
 
Despite the numbers, Alan B. Epstein, an attorney with Spector Gadon & Rosen explained that the judicial scandals have caused the public’s trust to wane.  They have also led to “‘a greater amount of disciplinary verve’” regarding readmitting disbarred attorneys who have breached fiduciary and public duties.   However, he noted that the legal community has become more sympathetic when disbarred attorneys have indiscretions relating to human weakness.
 
Lynn A. Marks, PMC’s executive director, also explained that these recent scandals have caused the public to focus on judicial misconduct.  Because of this, the legal community must be “more wary of the negative effects certain actions may have on the public trust.”
 
This article was originally published in the Legal Intelligencer (subscription required).