Lawyer fined 10,000 euros for sexist comments

A lawyer has been fined 10,000 euros and received a formal reprimand after the Disciplinary Council found him guilty of unprofessional conduct. The disciplinary action stems from an incident in 2021, where the attorney, who held a position at a local Bar Association, made sexist remarks regarding a schoolgirl's appearance and outfit during a public school event.

Following a legal hearing, the Disciplinary Council unanimously ruled that the lawyer’s behavior violated Article 17(1) of the Advocates Law (Cap. 2) and breached professional ethics regulations 4-9 and 11. While the accused initially faced five charges, the first three were dropped by the prosecution. He was acquitted of a fourth charge concerning allegations that he recorded disciplinary board meetings but was convicted on the fifth charge related to his derogatory comments at the 2021 school event. The ruling confirms that his public behavior was incompatible with the professional standards required of a practicing lawyer.