District Disability Committee

The same rules regarding immunity, expenses, and confidentiality as apply to members of a Committee shall apply to the members appointed to a District Disability Committee. The District Disability Committee shall proceed in a de novo proceeding to receive evidence and determine whether the attorney is suffering from a Disability. In all cases where the referral has been made by the Chief Disciplinary Counsel, the Commission shall carry the burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that the attorney suffers from a Disability. In all cases where the referral is made by an Evidentiary Panel, the party asserting that the attorney is suffering from a Disability shall carry the burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that the attorney suffers from a Disability. The Respondent shall be given reasonable notice and shall be afforded an opportunity to appear before, and present evidence to, the District Disability Committee. If there is no finding of Disability by the District Disability Committee, the entire record and the finding of the District Disability Committee will be returned to the Chief Disciplinary Counsel and the matter shall continue in the disciplinary process from the point where it was referred to the Board of Disciplinary Appeals for the determination of Disability. If, however, there is a finding of Disability, the District Disability Committee shall certify the finding to the Board of Disciplinary Appeals.