Nevada may become the first jurisdiction to adopt controversial ABA Model Rule 8.4(g)

Back in January I wrote a long post on a proposal to amend Model Rule 8.4 to make it a sanctionable offense to engage in harassment or discrimination.  I thought that the original proposal was problematic for a number of reasons.  Some of the problems I thought of originally were addressed (and fixed) in subsequent versions of the proposal, but I still have some concerns. Go here for some of my comments. 

The ABA eventually adopted the amendment and enacted a Model Rule 8.4(g).  Despite strong support for it within the ABA, not everyone agreed it was a good idea.  See here for example.  The Texas Attorney General issued an opinion concluding it is unconstitutional.  So did the Montana legislature in a resolution.  Pennsylvania rejected it and instead adopted the approach used in Illinois, which is different from the one suggested by the ABA.  Illinois rejected adopting the new rule too.  So did the Professional Responsibility Committee of the South Carolina Bar.

So far, no jurisdiction has adopted the Model Rule.  It is still too early to say that it has been a failure but at least some within the ABA are frustrated the reaction has not been more positive.

Now comes news that Nevada may become the first state to adopt the new rule, although according to this commentator, the state is being misled by the rules proponents.