Preamble
The Supreme Court of Texas has the constitutional and statutory responsibility within the State for the lawyer discipline and disability system, and has inherent power to maintain appropriate standards of professional conduct and to dispose of individual cases of lawyer discipline and disability in a manner that does not discriminate by race, creed, color, sex, or national origin. To carry out this responsibility, the Court promulgates the following rules for lawyer discipline and disability proceedings. Subject to the inherent power of the Supreme Court of Texas, the responsibility for administering and supervising lawyer discipline and disability is delegated to the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas. Authority to adopt rules of procedure and administration not inconsistent with these rules is vested in the Board. This delegation is specifically limited to the rights, powers, and authority herein expressly delegated.