Business Details
48 Years
experience
Your Trusted Authority for Attorney Discipline in Detroit, MI
The Attorney Discipline Board serves as the adjudicative arm of the Michigan Supreme Court, ensuring attorney conduct meets professional standards. Our mission involves overseeing formal complaints, conducting impartial hearings, and administering disciplinary actions against attorneys who violate ethical guidelines. We maintain public trust by enforcing accountability through structured processes, including review by experienced panels and transparent decision-making.Our operations adhere to Subchapter 9.100 of the Michigan Court Rules, balancing fairness for attorneys with protections for clients and the legal community. We provide accessible information about attorney discipline histories and maintain strict confidentiality where required by law.
Services
Attorney Disciplinary Hearings
Formal Complaint Processing
Disciplinary Appeals Review
Public Record Access
Grievance Investigations
Details
- Year established: 1978
Highlights and features
- We ensure fair, transparent disciplinary proceedings under Michigan Court Rules
- Our panels include experienced attorneys appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court
- We maintain strict confidentiality during investigations while ensuring public accountability
- Our processes include multi-tier review by legal experts and non-lawyer members
- We provide accessible online resources for checking attorney disciplinary histories
Services
Attorney Disciplinary Hearings
Our hearing panels conduct formal proceedings to evaluate attorney misconduct allegations. These public trials determine if professional violations occurred and recommend appropriate disciplinary measures according to Michigan Court Rules.
Formal Complaint Processing
We manage formal complaints from the Attorney Grievance Commission through structured evaluation processes. This includes case assignment, evidence review, and preparation for adjudication proceedings.
Disciplinary Appeals Review
Our board examines appeals from initial disciplinary decisions, ensuring proper application of legal standards. We conduct comprehensive reviews that may affirm, modify, or reverse lower panel determinations.
Public Record Access
We provide official records about attorney disciplinary actions through our searchable database. This service helps clients verify legal professional conduct histories dating back to 1978.
Fee Dispute Resolution
We offer arbitration services for attorney-client fee disputes through volunteer attorneys. This voluntary process provides binding resolutions for contested legal service payments.
People
Alan Gershel
Chairperson
Former U.S. Attorney and legal ethics expert with decades of prosecutorial and academic experience overseeing disciplinary processes.
Peter A. Smit
Vice-Chairperson
Experienced litigator specializing in complex legal cases with extensive involvement in Michigan's attorney disciplinary system.
Rev. Dr. Louis Prues
Secretary
Community leader and former social services executive providing ethical oversight and public perspective in disciplinary matters.
Linda M. Orlans
Board Member
Legal innovator focused on accessible legal services with national recognition for professional leadership in real estate law.
Jason M. Turkish
Board Member
Civil rights advocate and disability law expert with proven track record of advancing accessibility through landmark legal settlements.
Questions
Can I check if a lawyer has disciplinary history?
Yes, we maintain public records of attorney disciplinary actions. Visit our website for verification.
How do I file an attorney complaint?
Submit a Request for Investigation to the Attorney Grievance Commission for review and investigation.
What happens after filing a formal complaint?
Hearing panels conduct public proceedings under Michigan Court Rules before determining disciplinary action.
Can disciplinary decisions be appealed?
Yes, parties may petition the full Attorney Discipline Board for review within 21 days of decision.
How do I get a disciplinary history certificate?
Download our request form and submit payment through our secure payment portal.
Can I record a disciplinary hearing?
Recording requests require written approval from the hearing panel prior to proceedings.
