An investigator for disciplinary counsel is asking the Montana Commission on Practice to sanction former Blackfeet Nation lawyer Joe McKay for revealing confidential information about his client.

McKay told The Great Falls Tribune that the tribe was violating federal law by dipping into a workers' compensation insurance fund. The tribe fired him as its attorney and suspended his license to practice law on the reservation.

The tribe then filed a complaint with the commission. An investigator from the office of disciplinary counsel agreed that McKay violated professional ethics rules by breaching the attorney-client privilege.

As part of the Cobell Indian trust fund suit, McKay had been performing legal services for longtime Blackfeet leader Earl Old Person. McKay filed court documents and talked to the press about the case on behalf of Old Person, who was removed as a named plaintiff last year but remains part of the case as a member of the class.

Get the Story:
Conduct of lawyer at issue (AP 5/27)

Relevant Links:
Blackfeet Nation - http://www.blackfeetnation.com

Related Stories:
Editorial: Tribes should protect whistleblowers (02/10)
Blackfeet Nation in dispute with former lawyer (02/03)
Fired lawyer spills beans on tribal misspending (07/21)
Blackfeet leaders call for separation of powers (05/05)
Blackfeet tribal court hears leadership dispute (04/03)
Judge removes lead plaintiff from Cobell case (03/10)