TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Apr 9, 2026

The American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released a formal opinion on April 8 clarifying the ethical obligations of lawyers who possess information that could lead to a judge’s disqualification. Opinion 522 establishes that a lawyer’s role as an officer of the court requires the disclosure of such information to protect the integrity of the judicial process, provided disclosure does not violate client confidentiality. The rule “reinforces the principle that the legal profession bears a collective responsibility for the appearance of impartiality,” according to the committee. Read more in a press release.