Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Wesley R. Payne IV today released the following statement on the block to the implementation of Rule 8.4 (g) of the Rules of Professional Conduct:
“This Association has long supported the addition of an anti-discrimination provision to the Rules of Professional Conduct because we believe it is deeply important that all individuals who participate in the justice system, whether they are judges, lawyers, litigants, witnesses or employees, are able to do so free of discrimination and harassment.
“The rule proposed by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania would prohibit a lawyer engaged in the practice of law from knowingly engaging in conduct constituting harassment or discrimination based on race, sex, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, marital status or socioeconomic status. It is a variation of Rule 8.4 (g) of the American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct and would have brought our Commonwealth in line with the majority of states that have already adopted such a provision.
“We were disappointed to hear of the U.S. District Court ruling this week blocking the implementation of the Rule 8.4(g). We hope the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania will continue to pursue measures to make clear that harassment and discrimination by attorneys will not be tolerated, and we stand ready to assist with this endeavor.”
