Section 85.3. Jurisdiction

(a) General rule. Enforcement Rule 201(a) provides that the exclusive disciplinary jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the Board under the Enforcement Rules extends to:

(1) Any attorney admitted to practice law in this Commonwealth.

Official Note

The jurisdiction of the Board under this paragraph includes jurisdiction over a foreign legal consultant, military attorney or a person holding a Limited In-House Corporate Counsel License. See the definitions of ‘‘attorney,’’ ‘‘practice of law’’ and ‘‘respondent-attorney’’ in § 85.2 (relating to definitions).

(2) Any attorney of another jurisdiction specially admitted by a court of this Commonwealth for a particular proceeding.

(3) Any formerly admitted attorney, with respect to acts prior to suspension, disbarment, administrative suspension, or transfer to retired or inactive status, or with respect to acts subsequent thereto which amount to the practice of law or constitute the violation of the Disciplinary Rules, the Enforcement Rules or these rules.

(4) Any attorney who is a justice, judge or district justice, with respect to acts prior to taking office as a justice, judge or district justice, if the Judicial Inquiry and Review Board declines jurisdiction with respect to such acts.

(5) Any attorney who resumes the practice of law, with respect to nonjudicial acts while in office as a justice, judge or district justice.

(6) Any attorney not admitted in this Commonwealth who practices law or renders or offers to render any legal service in this Commonwealth.

(b) Exceptions. Enforcement Rule 201(b) provides that nothing contained in the Enforcement Rules shall be construed to deny to any other court such powers as are necessary for that court to maintain control over proceedings conducted before it, such as the power of contempt, nor to prohibit bar associations from censuring, suspending or expelling their members from membership in the association.

The provisions of this § 85.3 amended March 6, 1981, effective March 7, 1981, 11 Pa.B. 782; amended September 10, 2004, effective September 11, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 5013; amended August 5, 2005, effective immediately, 35 Pa.B. 4301; amended August 7, 2009, effective immediately, 39 Pa.B. 4725. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (333762) to (333763).