Board on Professional Responsibility Approves Rules Amendments

October 07, 2025

On October 3 the District of Columbia Board on Professional Responsibility issued Administrative Order 2025-2  promulgating approved amendments to Board Rules 7.5, 7.6, 7.12, 7.16, 13.3, 13.11, 14.1, 15.7, 19.4, and 19.8. 

Among the significant changes, revised Rule 7.5 stipulates that any document attached to the respondent’s answer will not be considered as evidence unless introduced and admitted during the hearing. Rule 7.16 now clarifies that the Hearing Committee is not authorized to rule on dispositive motions, including any motion to dismiss filed by the respondent.

Rule 13.3 concerns notice of exceptions to the Hearing Committee report and recommendations. The revised rule states that such notice should indicate “whether the party takes exception to the Hearing Committee’s Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and/or Recommendation as to Sanction without including legal argument. If respondent or Disciplinary Counsel timely files a notice of exceptions, the other party may file a notice of cross-exceptions within five days after the first notice was filed.”

Amended Rule 14.1 sets forth the requirements for Disciplinary Counsel’s motion to petition the court to impose temporary suspension and/or seek temporary conditions of probation if a respondent appears to pose a substantial threat of serious harm to the public. Filing requirements under Rule 19.8 have also been updated.

See the redlined and clean versions of the amended Board Rules.