Will state panel recommend more or less transparency for NC attorney complaints?

A legislative committee is exploring whether the system that investigates and disciplines North Carolina attorneys should change.

The group’s co-chairs suggested that lawyers needed to be protected from disciplinary complaints targeting them for speech or beliefs outside the courtroom.

They also asked that less information be shared with people who file complaints about lawyers.

The committee will produce a report on their findings by April 1.

Some presenters suggested the process should be more private.

Complaintants could then make the discipline public by sharing it on social media.

Carmen Bannon, legal counsel for the State Bar, cautioned against removing some transparency from the process.

White told Bannon the committee was not suggesting protecting defendants in cases such as that one.