Rule 4-108. Conduct Constituting Threat of Harm to Clients or Public; Emergency Suspension

(a) Upon receipt of sufficient evidence demonstrating that an attorney’s conduct poses a substantial threat of harm to his clients or the public and with the approval of the Immediate Past President of the State Bar of Georgia and the Chairperson of the Review Panel, or at the direction of the Chairperson of the Investigative Panel, the Office of General Counsel shall petition the Georgia Supreme Court for the suspension of the attorney pending disciplinary proceedings predicated upon the conduct causing such petition.

(b) The petition for emergency suspension shall state the evidence justifying the emergency suspension.

(c) The petition for emergency suspension shall be served upon the Respondent pursuant to Bar Rule 4-203.1.

(d) Upon receipt of the petition for emergency suspension, the Clerk of the Georgia Supreme Court shall file the matter in the records of the Court, shall assign the matter a docket number and shall notify the Court that appointment of a Special Master is appropriate.

(e) The Court will nominate a Special Master pursuant to Rule 4-209.2 to conduct a hearing where the State Bar shall show cause why the Respondent should be suspended pending disciplinary proceedings.

(f) Within fifteen days after service of the petition for emergency suspension upon the Respondent or appointment of a Special Master, whichever is later, the Special Master shall hold a hearing on the petition for emergency suspension.

(g) Within twenty days of the hearing, the Special Master shall file his or her recommendation with the Supreme Court of Georgia. The Court sitting en banc may suspend the Respondent pending final disposition of disciplinary proceedings predicated upon the conduct causing the emergency suspension, or order such other action as it deems appropriate.