BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FLORIDA BAR

(a) Responsibility of Board. The board is assigned the responsibility of maintaining high ethical standards among the members of The Florida Bar. The board will supervise and conduct disciplinary proceedings in accordance with the provisions of these rules.

(b) Authority to File a Formal Complaint. No formal complaint may be filed by The Florida Bar in disciplinary proceedings against a member of the bar unless 1 of the following conditions has been met:

(1) Finding of Probable Cause. A formal complaint may be filed if there has been a finding under these rules that probable cause exists to believe that the respondent is guilty of misconduct justifying disciplinary action;

(2) Emergency Suspension or Interim Probation. A formal complaint may be filed if the member is the subject of an order of emergency suspension or interim probation that is based on the same misconduct that is the subject matter of the formal complaint;

(3) Felony Determination or Adjudication. A formal complaint may be filed if the respondent has been determined or adjudged to be guilty of the commission of a felony;

(4) Discipline In Another Jurisdiction. A formal complaint may be filed if the respondent has been disciplined by another entity having jurisdiction over the practice of law;

(5) Felony Charges. A formal complaint may be filed if a member has been charged with commission of a felony under applicable law that warrants the imposition of discipline and if the chair of the grievance committee agrees. A decision of the grievance committee chair to not file a formal complaint must be reviewed by the full grievance committee. The grievance committee may affirm or reverse the decision.

(6) Discipline on Action of the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission. A formal complaint may be filed if the Supreme Court of Florida has adjudged the respondent guilty of judicial misconduct in an action brought by the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission, the respondent is no longer a judicial officer, and the facts warrant imposing disciplinary sanctions.

(c) Executive Committee. All acts and discretion required by the board under these Rules of Discipline may be exercised by its executive committee between meetings of the board as may from time to time be authorized by standing board of governors’ policies. Amended March 16, 1990, effective March 17, 1990 (558 So.2d 1008); July 23, 1992, effective Jan. 1, 1993 (605 So.2d 252); amended November 19, 2010, effective February 1, 2010 (34 Fla.L.Weekly S628a), amended November 9, 2017, effective February 1, 2018 (234 So.3d 632); amended December 18, 2025, effective February 16, 2026 (SC2025-1180).