Governor Ducey signs bill targeting state bar complaints

(KYMA, KECY/ AP News) - Governor Doug Ducey has signed a bill requiring the state bar to pay attorney fees and other costs if the organization seeks to discipline a lawyer and ends up losing.

The Governor signed the measure on Monday, hours after Senate Republicans gave final approval in a party-line vote.

Under the new law, the bar will be required to pay for attorney fees and court costs if it pursues discipline but doesn’t win the case. 

The bill originally would have required the bar to also pay for investigation costs, the loss of future earnings and damage to a lawyer’s reputation but those provisions were stripped from the bill by the House.

Critics warn that the measure has the potential to discourage investigations of attorneys accused of ethical violations or other misbehavior.