This month, Yolo County’s public defender and district attorney took the actions of the State Bar of California and the California Supreme Court just a little bit further by endorsing the Attorney Guidelines of Civility and Professionalism as a standard of conduct for their two offices.
In July 2007, the State Bar of California adopted California Attorney Guidelines of Civility and Professionalism. In May 2014, the California Supreme Court adopted rule 9.4 of the California Rules of Court to supplement the attorney oath for new lawyers to include a statement that the attorney will strive to conduct himself or herself with dignity, courtesy and integrity.
Setting the bar for their offices, Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig and Yolo County Public Defender Tracie Olson have now signed the following pledge:
“On behalf of ourselves and our departments, we commit to the Guidelines of Civility and Professionalism and will be guided by a sense of integrity, cooperation and fair play.
“As officers of the court, we will strive to conduct ourselves at all times with dignity, courtesy and integrity and we will expect the same of every attorney who is employed within our departments.”
“Prosecutors are charged with seeking justice, while defenders must zealously represent their clients under all circumstances,” Olson said. “We expect our attorneys to meet these obligations without sacrificing the basic tenets of civility, professional integrity, personal dignity, candor and diligence.”
“Even though we are on different sides of the courtroom, as officers of the court, we have an obligation to be professional with all parties,” Reisig added. “Respect, courtesy and cooperation are essential elements in the fair administration of justice and conflict resolution and it is imperative, as leaders in our offices, that we strongly affirm our commitment to these tenets.”
For more information on the California Attorney Guidelines of Civility and Professionalism, visit: http://ethics.calbar.ca.gov/Ethics/AttorneyCivilityandProfessionalism.aspx.