In Re Complaint as to the Conduct of Bell

The issue is the appropriate sanction for a violation of DR 7-110(B), which forbids a lawyer to communicate as to the merits of a case with a judge before whom the case is pending except in circumstances not pertinent to the circumstances of this case.

The following statement of facts is drawn from the accused’s brief insofar as that statement has been accepted by the Oregon State Bar in its brief. Facts not drawn from the accused’s brief are those which we find from our own review of the record.

Raymond Silbernagel was the purchaser at sheriffs sale of certain real property. Margaret Scott was…