(1888PressRelease)
July 11, 2008 - New York, NY - The Public Committee On Attorney Conduct (PCAC) has announced that it has apointed Alexis I du Pont-de Bie, Sr., Phd. as a member of the PCAC Executive Search Committee. The appointment of Mr. Du Pont-de Bie, which takes effect immediately, was made by John T. Whitely, chairman of the search committee.
The PCAC was recently established by joint action of Litigation Recovery Trust, a New York based rights administration organization, and Integrity in the Courts and Expose Corrupt Courts, two Internet blogs focused on judicial and attorney disciplinary process and procedures. The objective of the new committee organization is to help engineer the replacement of the New York State’s Attorney Disciplinary Committees. The Ad Hoc bar oversight committee is being headquartered in New York City.
In announcing this latest appointment, John T. Whitely stated, “PCAC is most fortunate to be able to call on the wide experience, expertise and extensive personal contacts of Alexis du Pont-de Bie as the committee begins its work of recruiting a roster of outstanding individuals to chart a future course to redesign the basic rules and procedures under which the legal profession is governed in New York State.”
Mr. du Pont-de Bie provided the following statement: “I fully agree with the founders of the PCAC that placing non lawyers in charge of the grievance process is a key element necessary to restore ethical standards to the fatally flawed grievance process. I see this as a crucial first step in holding the bench and bar accountable to the high standards envisioned by our country’s founding fathers in establishing the judicial system. As I see it, the “old boy” system of favoritism and special status so common throughout our court system must be eliminated as soon as possible. Clearly, that PCAC is seeking to achieve true attorney accountability is taking a critical first step in launching this grass roots effort.”
A resident of New York City, Alexis du Pont-de Bie is a graduate of the Sorbonne in Paris and has taught at the JFK University in Buenos Aires, the Ontario Institute for studies in Higher Education and the University of Florence, Italy. He is a founding member of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children and a life member of the Board of the American Creativity Association. Mr. Du Pont’s seventh great grandfather was Pierre Samuel du Pont De Nemours, a major participant in the acquisition of the Lousiana Purchase with president President Thomas Jefferson.
Under the plan put forth by LRT, Integrity in the Courts. and Expose Corrupt Courts, the newly formed Public Committee On Attorney Conduct will review both past and present cases brought before the grievance committees to provide an independent review and analysis of the facts, and issue proposed findings. With respect to past cases, the committee will be particularly interested in hearing from persons who maintain that they have been treated unfairly and unjustly by the disciplinary committees. As part of its initial efforts, the new committee will actively seek documentation of all complaints against any attorneys dating to January 1, 1988.
According to the founding organizations, the Public Committee On Attorney Conduct will include as members individuals, who through their personal and professional lives have established a reputation of responsibility and fairness. While attorneys will be available to the PCAC as advisers and consultants, all voting members issuing formal reports and decisions will be non attorneys. PCAC’s immediate goal here is to create a practical, working model to replace the attorney grievance committees.”
Mr. Whitely has reported that since news of the formation of the PCAC was first made public on June 17, individual complainants have begun submitting requests to PCAC to review both past and current matters before the New York State grievance committees. Requests and documents are being received by PCAC at its email address: pcacinformation ( @ ) gmail dot com. Telephone inquiries can be directed to 347-632-9775. For additional information, contact the PCAC website at www.pcac.8k.com.
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