Better to ask for forgiveness or permission?

You may have heard the expression "better (easier?) to ask for forgiveness than to request permission" (or something to that effect), right?  Well, think again, if the question involves a disciplinary authority.  As reported by the Legal Profession blog:

An attorney who had been reinstated to practice on conditions admitted to violation of the conditions by handling criminal cases without supervision or malpractice insurance. He then sought to amend the conditions to allow for what he had already done. The Delaware Supreme Court denied the petition stating "The Court is troubled that the petitioner returned to private practice in a manner that violated the Court's Order in substantial, myriad ways without first seeking leave of the Court to modify the conditions of his reinstatement."