Professional Ethics, Official Conduct and Disciplinary Liability of Prosecutors
Ethical standards and discipline
This domain tests the Code of Ethics and the disciplinary liability of prosecutors.
- Prosecutors must be independent, impartial, honest, confidential, polite and free from political or business entanglements. Official conduct must not damage the authority of the Prosecutor's Office.
- Disciplinary grounds include violation of law, official duty or ethics, and conduct incompatible with the office. Sanctions may range from warning and reprimand to dismissal, depending on the law and gravity.
- Procedure must respect the prosecutor's rights: written notice, explanation, hearing, reasoned decision and appeal. Criminal or administrative liability is separate.
Worked example
A prosecutor posts insulting comments about a judge online. The ethics commission examines the post, its context and the prosecutor's duties. Reasoning: the conduct undermines impartiality and public trust; discipline is justified, but the sanction must be proportionate and the procedure fair.
Traps
Ethics is not only private morality. Immunity does not cover criminal conduct. Discipline is not a substitute for criminal procedure. A lawful act may still be unethical if it damages trust.