Commission Jurisdiction and Authority

Attorneys licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan and attorneys from other jurisdictions who are admitted to practice on a specific matter in a specific Michigan court are equally subject to the jurisdiction of the AGC and the Attorney Discipline Board (ADB). The AGC and the ADB have jurisdiction only over individuals, and not over law firms or professional affiliations.

The court rules covering the Commission, and the Attorney Discipline Board, are expressly set forth in Chapter 9.100 of the Michigan Court Rules www.courtofappeals.mijud.net. The rules governing the ethical practice of law are largely contained in the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct www.michbar.org/professional/pdfs/mrpc.pdf (MRPC). Presently, the Michigan Supreme Court is considering significant changes to the MRPC. A formal action by the AGC alleging misconduct against an attorney must allege that the conduct violated the MRPC or limited provisions of Chapter 9.100 of the Michigan Court Rules.