RECOMMENDATIONS OF AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION. xiii more advanced subjects and to be taken not earlier than three years after registration. Admission of Attorneys from Other Jurisdictions. Upon petition, the law examiners should relieve from all requirements, save the requirements as to character, age, and citizenship, a candidate who is already a member of the bar of a state in which there are equivalent requirements for admission, or in which, after admission, he has been in active practice for five years. Code of Ethics Adopted by American Bar Association 1. The Duty of the Lawyer to the Courts. It is the duty of the lawyer to maintain towards the Courts a respectful attitude, not for the sake of the temporary incumbent of the judicial office, but for the maintenance of its supreme importance. Judges, not being wholly free to defend themselves, are peculiarly entitled to receive the support of the Bar against unjust criticism and clamor. Whenever there is proper ground for serious complaint of a judicial officer, it is the right and duty of the lawyer to submit his grievances to the proper authorities. In such cases, but not otherwise, such charges should be encouraged and the person making them should be protected. Annot. Attacking or criticising court as ground for disbarment, see Attorney and Client, Cent. Dig. §§ 59, 60; Dec. Dig. § 43. Attacking or criticising court as constituting contempt, see Contempt, Cent. Dig. §§ 6-10; Dec. Dig. § 6. Suspension or removal of judge and liability of judge for official acts, see Judges, Cent. Dig. §§ 42-45, 165-180; Dec. Dig. §§ 11, 36, 37. Remarks and conduct of judge on trial of case in general, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 1520-1535; Dec. Dig. §§ 654–658; Trial, Cent. Dig. §§ 80-84; Dec. Dig. § 29. 2. The Selection of Judges. It is the duty of the Bar to endeavor to prevent political considerations from out-weighing judicial fitness in the selection of Judges. It should protest earnestly and actively against the appointment or election of those who are unsuitable for the Bench; and it should strive to have elevated thereto only those willing to forego other employments, whether of a business, political or other character, which may embarrass their free and fair consideration of questions before them for decision. The aspiration of lawyers for judicial position should be governed by an impartial estimate of their ability to add honor to the office and not by a desire for the distinction the position may bring to themselves. Annot. Appointment, eligibility, and qualification of judges, see Judges. Cent. Dig. §§ 1-23; Dec. Dig. §§ 1-5. 3. Attempts to Exert Personal Influence on the Court. Marked attention and unusual hospitality on the part of a lawyer to a Judge, uncalled for by the personal relations of the parties, subject both the Judge and the lawyer to misconstructions of motive and should be avoided. A lawyer should not communicate or argue privately with the Judge as to the merits of a pending cause, and he deserves rebuke and denunciation for any device or attempt to gain from a Judge special personal consideration or favor. A self-respecting independence in the discharge of professional duty, without denial or diminution of the courtesy and respect due the Judge's station, is the only proper foundation for cordial personal and official relations between Bench and Bar. Annot. Attempting to influence court as constituting contempt justifying disbarment of attorney, see Attorney and Client, Cent. Dig. § 60. 4. When Counsel for an Indigent Prisoner. A lawyer assigned as counsel for an indigent prisoner ought not to ask to be excused for any trivial reason, and should always exert his best efforts in his behalf. Annot. Assignment as counsel by the court, and skill and care required of attorney, see Attorney and Client, Cent. Dig. §§ 31, 218; Dec. Dig. § 23; Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 1500-1505; Dec. Dig. § 641. 5. The Defense or Prosecution of Those Accused of Crime. It is the right of the lawyer to undertake the defense of a person accused of crime, regardless of his personal opinion as to the guilt of the accused; otherwise innocent persons, victims only of suspicious circumstances, might be denied proper defense. Having undertaken such defense, the lawyer is bound by all fair and honorable means, to present every defense that the law of the land permits, to the end that no person may be deprived of life or liberty, but by due process of law. The primary duty of a lawyer engaged in public prosecution is not to convict, but to see that justice is done. The suppression of facts or the secreting of witnesses capable of establishing the innocence of the accused is highly reprehensible. Annot. Defense of criminal in general, see Attorney and Client, Cent. Dig. §§ 31, 218; Dec. Dig. § 23; Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 1496-1506, Dec. Dig. § 641. Misconduct of counsel, ground for new trial, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 2197-2201; Dec. Dig. § 919. Functions of office and powers and duties of prosecuting attorneys, see District and Prosecuting Attorneys, Cent. Dig. §§ 1, 34-37; Dec. Dig. §§ 1, 8, 9. 6. Adverse Influences and Conflicting Interests. It is the duty of a lawyer at the time of retainer to disclose to the client all the circumstances of his relations to the parties, and any interest in or connection with the controversy, which might influence the client in the selection of counsel. It is unprofessional to represent conflicting interests, except by express consent of all concerned given after a full disclosure of the facts. Within the meaning of this canon, a lawyer represents conflicting interests when, in behalf of one client, it is his duty to contend for that which duty to another client requires him to oppose. The obligation to represent the client with undivided fidelity and not to divulge his secrets or confidences forbids also b |