Ethics corner

The Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline for the State of Ohio recently issued a decision that may be of general interest to Illinois government lawyers. Beware, as always, of any outside work or practice in which you engage. The case's syllabus follows:

Opinion No. 2001-5, issued October 5, 2001. It is improper under section 2921.43(A)(1) of the Ohio Revised Code and DR 9-101(B) of the Ohio Code of Professional Responsibility [ see, Illinois Rule of Professional Conduct 1.11] for a court-employed attorney/mediator to conduct a private fee-paid mediation of any case pending on the docket of the employing court. A court-employed attorney/mediator is not prohibited from conducting private fee-paid mediations of matters that are not pending before the employing court or of civil cases pending in jurisdictions outside the court in which the attorney/mediator is employed.