(A) Upon a Grievance that a member is engaging in conduct that, if allowed to continue until final disposition of disciplinary proceedings, will cause serious damage to the public and members, or upon certification or notice that a member is delinquent on or is failing to pay a court-ordered obligation under a support order, or when a member has been convicted of a serious crime, the appropriate Committee on Inquiry with the assistance of the Counsel for Discipline may prepare and submit to the Court an application for the temporary suspension of the member from the practice of law until final disposition of any pending disciplinary proceedings. Such application shall be signed by the Chairperson of the Committee and shall set forth grounds clearly indicating that a temporary suspension of the member is necessary and proper.

   (B) Upon the filing of such application for temporary suspension, the Court shall provide for notice to the member who shall have the right of representation by counsel selected by the member or appointed by the Court, if it should appear to the Court the member may not be competent to do so. Notice shall be by service of the application by any means permitted with respect to service of formal charges under § 3-310(G).

   (C) The Court shall take or direct, consistent with fundamental fairness and due process, such action as it deems necessary and proper to determine if the member should be suspended pending the final disposition of the disciplinary proceedings.

   (D) If, upon due consideration of the matter, the Court concludes the member should be suspended pending final disposition of the disciplinary proceedings, it shall enter an order suspending the member until the further order of the Court.

   (E) Any member suspended under the provisions of this rule shall be entitled to apply for termination of the temporary suspension by filing with the Court an application supported by clear and convincing evidence that the member is no longer engaging in conduct which, if allowed to continue until final disposition of any disciplinary proceedings, would cause serious continuing damage to the public and members, and that there is no reasonable likelihood that such conduct will recur.

   (F) Any temporary suspension order issued under this rule shall automatically terminate at the final disposition of the disciplinary proceedings or upon application to and order of the Court that the reason for the temporary suspension of the member no longer exists.

Rule 12 amended September 9, 1999; Rule 12(B) amended September 11, 2002. Renumbered and codified as § 3-312, effective July 18, 2008.