“The writer is totally ignorant of how the legal profession works. Ethics investigations are carried out at the state level, not by a small, national voluntary organization. Deace is an embarrassment to himself and his employer.”
Correct. The proper agency to conduct an investigation would be the State Bar of California. It would have to be proven she knew the signature was a forgery. Incompetence is not grounds for disbarment. Did she have to disclose, if she did know, prior to the time a party has to disclose in a lawsuit? Not cut and dry.
Well, there is rule 5-120 which they don’t seem to enforce (and, indeed, the official discussion renders it pretty much meaningless)
“A member who is participating or has participated in the investigation or litigation of a matter shall not make an extrajudicial statement that a reasonable person would expect to be disseminated by means of public communication if the member knows or reasonably should know that it will have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing an adjudicative proceeding in the matter.”
More to your point, however, incompetence is a violation (unless it is negligent):
Rule 3-110 (A) A member shall not intentionally, recklessly, or repeatedly fail to perform legal services with competence.