(b) Whenever it appears to the Court that any member of its bar, admitted generally under Rule 2.01 or then appearing specially under Rule 2.02, has been disbarred or suspended from practice by the Supreme Court of Florida, or by any other court of competent jurisdiction, as the case might be, or has been disbarred on consent or resigned from the bar of any other court while an investigation into allegations of misconduct is pending, or has been convicted of a felony in any court, such disbarment, suspension, resignation, or conviction shall, twenty-one (21) days thereafter, operate as an automatic suspension of such attorney's right to practice in this Court; provided, however, the attorney may file, within such twenty-one (21) day period, a petition, with a copy served upon the United States Attorney, seeking relief from the operation of this rule, and if a timely petition is filed, suspension shall be stayed until the petition is determined. If such petition is filed by an attorney who has been admitted to practice generally under Rule 2.01 of these rules, it shall be heard and determined by the Chief Judge of the Court sitting with any two or more of other judges of the District as the Chief Judge shall designate. If such petition is filed by an attorney who has been admitted to practice specially under Rule 2.02 of these rules, it shall be heard and determined by the judge assigned to the case in which such special appearance has been made.
(c) Any attorney admitted to practice before this Court, upon being subjected to public discipline by any other Court of the United States or the District of Columbia, or by a court of any state, territory, commonwealth, or possession of the United States, including any attorney who is disbarred on consent or resigns from any bar while an investigation into allegations of misconduct is pending, shall promptly inform the Clerk of this Court of such action.
(d) The professional conduct of all members of the bar of this Court, admitted generally under Rule 2.01 or specially under Rule 2.02, shall be governed by the Model Rules of Professional Conduct of the American Bar Association as modified and adopted by the Supreme Court of Florida to govern the professional behavior of the members of The Florida Bar.
(e) The Court may appoint a Grievance Committee in each Division of the Court to conduct investigations of alleged misconduct on the part of any member of its bar, whether admitted generally under Rule 2.01 or specially under Rule 2.02. Each Grievance Committee shall consist of not less than five members of the bar of this Court regularly practicing in that Division, three of whom shall constitute a quorum. Appointments shall be for three (3) years. The Court shall designate the Chairman of the Committee in each Division, but each Committee shall otherwise organize itself as it sees fit. All proceedings before the Committees may be conducted informally, but shall remain confidential unless otherwise ordered by the Court. Each Committee shall function as follows:
(ii) the question raised justifies further inquiry but should be referred to the appropriate grievance committee of The Florida Bar; or
(iii) the question raised justifies further inquiry and should be pursued by the Committee due to distinctly Federal features or other appropriate reason. The Chairman of the Committee shall then report the Committee's preliminary recommendation to the referring judge and shall follow his direction.
(g) Nothing in this rule shall be construed as providing an exclusive procedure for the discipline of members of the bar in appropriate cases, nor as a limitation upon the power of the Court to punish for contempt in appropriate cases.
(h) Attorneys and litigants should conduct themselves with civility and in a spirit of cooperation in order to reduce unnecessary cost and delay.
