Rule 301. Proceedings where an attorney is declared to be incapacitated or severely mentally disabled.
(a) The clerk of any court within this Commonwealth that declares that an attorney is incapacitated or that orders involuntary treatment of an attorney on the grounds that the attorney is severely mentally disabled or that denies a petition for review of a certification by a mental health review officer subjecting an attorney to involuntary treatment shall within 24 days of such disposition transmit a certificate thereof to Disciplinary Counsel, who shall file such certificate with the Supreme Court.
Official Note
It is the responsibility of each local court to adopt any necessary procedures so that mental health officers and individual judges notify the clerk of the court that the respondent in a matter is an attorney and that a certificate must accordingly be sent to Disciplinary Counsel under this rule.
(b) Upon being advised that an attorney has been declared incapacitated or involuntarily committed to an institution on the grounds of incapacity or severe mental disability, Disciplinary Counsel shall secure and file a certificate in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (a) of this rule. If the declaration of incapacity or commitment occurred in another jurisdiction, it shall be the responsibility of Disciplinary Counsel to secure and file a certificate of such declaration or commitment.
(c) Where an attorney has been judicially declared incapacitated or involuntarily committed on the grounds of incapacity or severe mental disability, the Supreme Court, upon proper proof of the fact, shall enter an order transferring such attorney to disability inactive status effective immediately and for an indefinite period until the further order of the Court. A copy of such order shall be served upon such formerly admitted attorney, the guardian of such person and/or the director of the institution to which such person has been committed in such manner as the Court may direct. Where an attorney has been transferred to disability inactive status by an order in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision and, thereafter, in proceedings duly taken, the person is judicially declared to be competent, the Court upon application may dispense with further evidence that the disability has been removed and may direct reinstatement to active status upon such terms as are deemed proper and advisable.
(d) Whenever the Board shall petition the Court to determine whether an attorney is incapacitated from continuing the practice of law by reason of mental infirmity or illness or because of addiction to drugs or intoxicants, the Court may take or direct such action as it deems necessary or proper to determine whether the attorney is so incapacitated, including the examination of the attorney by such qualified medical experts as the Court shall designate. If, upon due consideration of the matter, the Court concludes that the attorney is incapacitated from continuing to practice law, it shall enter an order transferring the attorney to disability inactive status on the ground of such disability for an indefinite period and until the further order of the Court. If examination of a respondent-attorney by a qualified medical expert reveals that the respondent lacks the capacity to aid effectively in the preparation of a defense, the Court may order that any pending disciplinary proceeding against the respondent shall be held in abeyance except for the perpetuation of testimony and the preservation of documentary evidence. The order of abatement may provide for reexaminations of the respondent-attorney at specified intervals or upon motion by Disciplinary Counsel. The Court shall provide for such notice to the respondent-attorney of proceedings in the matter as it deems proper and advisable and may appoint an attorney to represent the respondent if the respondent is without adequate representation.
(e) If, during the course of a disciplinary proceeding, the respondent contends that the respondent is suffering from a disability by reason of mental or physical infirmity or illness, or because of addiction to drugs or intoxicants, which makes it impossible for the respondent to prepare an adequate defense, the respondent shall complete and file with the Court a certificate of admission of disability. The respondent shall serve a copy of the certificate on the Board and Disciplinary Counsel. The certificate shall:
(1) identify the precise nature of the disability and the specific or approximate date of the onset or initial diagnosis of the disabling condition;
(2) contain an explanation of the manner in which the disabling condition makes it impossible for the respondent to prepare an adequate defense;
(3) have appended thereto the opinion of at least one medical expert that the respondent is unable to prepare an adequate defense and a statement containing the basis for the medical expert’s opinion; and
(4) contain a statement, signed by the respondent, that all averments of material fact contained in the certificate and attachments are true upon the respondent’s knowledge or information and belief and made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.
The respondent may attach to the certificate affidavits, medical records, additional medical expert reports, official records, or other documents in support of the existence of the disabling condition or the respondent’s contention of lack of physical or mental capacity to prepare an adequate defense.
Upon receipt of the certificate, the Court thereupon shall enter an order immediately transferring the respondent to disability inactive status until a determination is made of the respondent’s capacity to aid effectively in the preparation of a defense or to continue to practice law in a proceeding instituted in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (d) of this rule unless the Court finds that the certificate does not comply with the requirements of this subdivision, in which case the Court may deny the request for transfer to disability inactive status or enter any other appropriate order. Before or after the entry of the order transferring the respondent to disability inactive status under this subdivision, the Court may, upon application by Disciplinary Counsel and for good cause shown, take or direct such action as the Court deems necessary or proper to a determination of whether it is impossible for the respondent to prepare an adequate defense, including a direction for an examination of the respondent by such qualified medical experts as the Court shall designate. In its discretion, the Court may direct that the expense of such an examination shall be paid by the respondent.
The order transferring the attorney to disability inactive status under this subdivision shall be a matter of public record. The certificate of admission of disability and attachments to the certificate shall not be publicly disclosed or made available for use in any proceeding other than a subsequent reinstatement or disciplinary proceeding except:
(i) upon order of the Supreme Court;
(ii) pursuant to an express written waiver by the attorney; or
(iii) upon a request by the Pennsylvania Lawyers Fund for Client Security Board pursuant to Enforcement Rule 521(a) (relating to cooperation with Disciplinary Board).
If the Court shall determine at any time that the respondent is able to aid effectively in the preparation of a defense or is not incapacitated from practicing law, it shall take such action as it deems proper and advisable including a direction for the resumption of the disciplinary proceeding against the respondent.
(f) The Board shall cause a notice of transfer to disability inactive status to be published in the legal journal and a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the disabled attorney practiced.
(g) The Board shall promptly transmit a certified copy of the order of transfer to disability inactive status to the president judge of the court of common pleas of the judicial district in which the disabled attorney practiced and shall request such action under the provisions of Enforcement Rule 321 (relating to appointment of conservator to protect interests of clients of absent attorney) as may be indicated in order to protect the interests of the disabled attorney and the clients of the disabled attorney.
(h) Except as provided in subdivision (c), a disabled attorney may not resume active status until reinstated by order of the Court upon petition for reinstatement pursuant to Rule 218 (relating to reinstatement proceedings). A disabled attorney shall be entitled to apply for reinstatement to active status once a year or at such shorter intervals as the Court may direct in the order transferring the respondent to disability inactive status or any modification thereof. Such application shall be granted by the Court upon a showing by clear and convincing evidence that the formerly admitted attorney’s disability has been removed and such person is fit to resume the practice of law. Upon such application, the Court may take or direct such action as it deems necessary or proper to a determination of whether the formerly admitted attorney’s disability has been removed including a direction for an examination of the formerly admitted attorney by such qualified medical experts as the Court shall designate. In its discretion, the Court may direct that the expense of such an examination shall be paid by the formerly admitted attorney.
(i) In a proceeding seeking a transfer to disability inactive status under this rule, the burden of proof shall rest with the Board. In a proceeding seeking an order of reinstatement to active status under this rule, the burden of proof shall rest with the respondent-attorney.
(j) The filing of an application for reinstatement to active status by a formerly admitted attorney transferred to disability inactive status shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of any doctor-patient privilege with respect to any treatment of the formerly admitted attorney during the period of disability. The formerly admitted attorney shall be required to disclose the name of every psychiatrist, psychologist, physician and hospital or other institution by whom or in which the formerly admitted attorney has been examined or treated since transfer to disability inactive status and shall furnish to the Court written consent to each to divulge such information and records as requested by court appointed medical experts.
(k) As used in this rule, the term ‘‘disabled attorney’’ means an attorney transferred to disability inactive status under this rule.
(l) See Rule 601(a) (relating to statutes and other authorities suspended or abrogated).
Source The provisions of this Rule 301 amended through April 1, 1983, effective April 2, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 1179; amended November 7, 1988, effective November 25, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 5246; amended January 3, 2011, effective in 30 days, 41 Pa.B. 331; amended April 18, 2019, effective in 30 days, 49 Pa.B. 2209; amended July 19, 2023, effective September 1, 2023, 53 Pa.B. 4385. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (396654) to (396657).
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