Bill > H2269

This bill establishes ethical standards for district attorneys and their employees, making them subject to the same laws and rules governing other attorneys, including professional conduct rules. It specifically prohibits district attorneys from seeking indictments without probable cause, failing to release exculpatory information, intentionally misstating or altering evidence, misleading courts about a person's guilt, influencing witnesses, obstructing a defendant's right to discovery, offering sexual favors to witnesses, improperly leaking investigation information, misstating the law, or engaging in conduct that discredits their office. Violations can result in penalties such as probation, demotion, dismissal, referral to the bar for ethical charges, loss of pension, suspension, or even criminal prosecution. The Supreme Judicial Court's Disciplinary Board will handle complaints, conducting preliminary investigations within thirty days and further investigations and penalty imposition within ninety days if warranted, based on a preponderance of evidence. The bill defines "employee" broadly to include anyone acting under the authority of the district attorney's office.