[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 20356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10277]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 1026


Standards of Conduct for Outside Attorneys Practicing Before the 
Consumer Product Safety Commission; Termination of Rulemaking

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In November 2000, the Consumer Product Safety Commission 
published a notice of proposed rulemaking to issue a new rule 
addressing the behavior of attorneys on matters before the Commission. 
65 FR 66515. The Commission has now decided that such a new rule is not 
necessary, and has terminated this regulatory proceeding.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa V. Hampshire, Office of the 
General Counsel, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 
20207; (301) 504-7631; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission does not have rules governing 
the behavior of attorneys outside the context of a formal adjudication. 
The Commission conducts the majority of its business outside of such 
adjudications. In November 2000 the Commission proposed a new rule that 
would cover attorney conduct outside of formal adjudications.
    The Commission received five comments opposing the proposal. These 
comments criticized the proposed rule on the following grounds: (1) The 
rule is unnecessary because there is no attorney misconduct problem at 
the Commission and existing state bar regulations are adequate to 
regulate any future attorney misconduct; (2) the ``bad faith'' standard 
set forth in the proposed rule is vague and overly broad; and (3) the 
procedures contained in the proposed rule are inadequate to protect the 
rights of the attorneys subject to it. The Commission received one 
comment endorsing the need for a new rule and favoring the standards 
and enforcement procedures contained in it.
    The Commission has evaluated the comments and has decided the 
proposed attorney conduct rules are not necessary and, accordingly, the 
November 2000 notice of proposed rulemaking is withdrawn.

    Dated: April 22, 2003.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 03-10277 Filed 4-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P