On March 21, 2022, the Disciplinary Board celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. By Order of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania dated March 21, 1972, the Board was established to regulate attorney conduct. Attorney discipline in Pennsylvania, as in most states, has not always been administered by a statewide disciplinary body. Prior to 1972, attorney discipline was largely under the jurisdiction of county courts and bar associations.
During this Golden Anniversary year, the Board honors a second milestone. The Court’s March 21, 1972 Order adopted The Pennsylvania Rules of Disciplinary Enforcement, effective November 1, 1972. In the five decades since the Board first enforced its Code of Professional Responsibility, it has prudently developed and evolved its sources of disciplinary authority to better serve its mission to protect the public, maintain the integrity of the legal profession, and safeguard the reputation of the courts.