Justices of the Appellate Division, First Department v. Erdmann

Without more, isolated instances of disrespect for the law, Judges and courts expressed by vulgar and insulting words or other incivility, uttered, written, or committed outside the precincts of a court are not subject to professional discipline (cf. Code of Professional Responsibility, EC 8-6; cf., generally, Ann., Attorneys — Criticizing Court, 12 ALR 3d 1408). Nor is the matter substantially altered if there is hyperbole expressed in the impoverished vocabulary of the street. On *560this view, no constitutional issue of privileged expression is involved in the conduct ascribed to appellant.

Perh…