The Supreme Court issued a stern warning on Thursday, July 9, reminding the public and legal practitioners that all disciplinary proceedings against lawyers must be kept strictly confidential, warning that violators could face severe penalties like contempt of court.
According to the high tribunal’s public information office, the mandated privacy surrounding these cases must be maintained until a definitive ruling is handed down.
“The Supreme Court reminds the public, especially members of the legal profession, that disciplinary proceedings against lawyers are confidential and must remain so until the Court issues its final order,” the official statement noted.
This protocol aligns with Canon VI, Section 1 of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA), which dictates that investigations into attorney misconduct are “confidential in character and summary in nature.”
While the Court enforces absolute privacy during the active probe, it noted that the restrictions lift once a verdict is reached, allowing the final outcome to be released to the public.
“Nonetheless, the final order of the Supreme Court shall be published like its decisions in other cases,” the Court explained.
Judicial authorities emphasized that compliance with the non-disclosure rule is mandatory, noting that individuals who leak or spread details about ongoing cases threaten the fairness of the proceedings and will face consequences.
“Unauthorized disclosure or dissemination of information regarding such proceedings may violate the CPRA and result in appropriate sanctions, including contempt of court,” the advisory warned.
The High Tribunal concluded that these strict confidentiality boundaries are vital to protecting the integrity and impartiality of the legal system’s regulatory processes.