Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A Latin preposition meaning for.
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Pierre Poulin, a sitting judge, files a personal contract dispute in state court and appears without counsel to argue motions and examine witnesses. The court permits the filings because they involve only his own interests and do not invoke the prestige of his office. The opposing party moves to disqualify him, but the motion fails.
Patricia Patel, a partner at a large firm, spends fifty-five hours drafting wills and handling eviction defenses for clients referred by a legal-aid society. She records the time as uncompensated work and reports it on her firm's annual pro bono summary. The firm recognizes her contribution toward its collective responsibility.
Pinnacle Holdings, a for-profit corporation, produces and airs a documentary criticizing a federal candidate. The Federal Election Commission seeks to bar the broadcast under corporate-speech restrictions. The company asserts that the expenditure constitutes protected political expression.
Philip Powell, a judicial candidate, responds to a political party's questionnaire about his views on sentencing policy. The state judicial conduct board charges him with violating the announce clause. Powell defends the statements as core political speech protected by the First Amendment.
Pedro Pacheco is convicted of a weapons offense. The trial judge, rather than the jury, finds that the shooting caused permanent injury and imposes an enhanced sentence. Pacheco challenges the enhancement on the ground that the fact was not submitted to the jury.
Phoenix Technologies, a student group at a public university, publishes a magazine containing religious viewpoints. The university denies funding because the content is religious. The group sues, claiming viewpoint discrimination in the allocation of student fees.
A judge may give uncompensated advice or draft documents for a family member but may not appear as that person's lawyer in any forum.
Rule 6.1 states that a lawyer should aspire to render at least fifty hours of pro bono publico legal services each year, with a substantial majority provided without fee to persons of limited means.
The First Amendment prohibits the government from suppressing political speech on the basis of the speaker's corporate identity.
A state may not prohibit a judicial candidate from announcing positions on legal or political issues because such speech lies at the core of First Amendment protection.