Confidentiality

38.8(1) All unauthorized practice of law investigation matters, including but not limited to files, correspondence, investigation reports, memoranda, and records of investigations, are confidential unless otherwise provided in this chapter or ordered by the Iowa Supreme Court. All September 2024 UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE—RULES OF PROCEDURE Ch 38, p.3 statements, communications, or materials that may be received or obtained by any person investigating any complaint on behalf of the commission must also be confidential unless otherwise provided in this chapter or ordered by the Supreme Court of Iowa. 38.8(2) Notwithstanding rule 38.8(1): a. If the commission initiates an action pursuant to Iowa Court Rule 37.2, the petition and all documents filed in that proceeding are public documents. b. The chairperson or other designee of the commission may issue one or more clarifying announcements when the subject matter of a complaint or petition is of broad public interest. No other member of the commission may make any public statement concerning any matter before the commission without prior approval of the commission. c. Pursuant to the commission’s order, records may be inspected by and their contents disclosed to a person conducting bona fide research for research purposes, provided that no personal identifying data or work product of commission counsel is disclosed to such a person. d. Nothing in this chapter prohibits the commission from releasing information to its counsel. e. Nothing in this chapter prohibits the commission from releasing information as appropriate to the Iowa Supreme Court, the Iowa Department of Justice, the Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board, appropriate law enforcement authorities, or some other agency or entity. [Court Order February 17, 1992, effective July 1, 1992; December 15, 1994, effective January 3, 1995; November 9, 2001, effective February 15, 2002; April 20, 2005, effective July 1, 2005; December 10, 2012; December 13, 2017, effective January 1, 2018]