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Problems in Legal Ethics Keyed to Schwartz, 14th Ed.
In re Reines
Citation:
771 F.3d 1326 (2014)Facts
Edward Reines, a member of the Federal Circuit bar since 1993 and chair of the court’s Advisory Council, received a private email from then-Chief Judge Rader on March 5, 2014, following Reines’ oral arguments in two companion cases. The email described judges at a private lunch praising Reines’ performance, referred to Reines as “my friend” and “friend for life,” and encouraged Reines to share the message with others. Reines subsequently forwarded this email to at least 35 existing and prospective clients, often with comments soliciting their business and describing the feedback as “unusual” or “quite unusual.” In some communications, Reines referenced his “stature” within the court and his role as chair of the Federal Circuit’s Advisory Council, suggesting his special relationship with the court could help clients. Recipients’ responses indicated they understood the email to suggest a special relationship between Reines and the court that could be beneficial in their cases.
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