Common Cause Opposes DOJ “Self-Policing” Ethics Rule
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On March 27, 2026, Common Cause submitted a formal comment opposing the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Proposed Rule OAG199. The proposed rule would strip independent state bar associations of their power to enforce state ethics rules against their own attorneys.
Common Cause argues this “radical change” is a violation of the McDade Amendment (28 U.S.C. § 530B), which mandates federal prosecutors be held to the same ethical standards as all other licensed attorneys. This complaint was submitted in response to the recent dismantling of internal ethics offices and clear overreach of federal prosecutors starting in 2025. In the comment, Common Cause urges the DOJ to reject the rule to ensure federal attorneys are held accountable to independent oversight and the rule of law.
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