[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 32, Volume 5]
[Revised as of July 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 32CFR776.3]

[Page 510-511]
 
                       TITLE 32--NATIONAL DEFENSE
 
                   CHAPTER VI--DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
 
PART 776_PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF ATTORNEYS PRACTICING UNDER THE 
 
                            Subpart A_General
 
Sec. 776.3  Policy.

    (a) Covered attorneys shall maintain the highest standards of 
professional ethical conduct. Loyalty and fidelity to the United States, 
to the law, to clients both institutional and individual, and to the 
rules and principles of professional ethical conduct set forth in 
subpart B of this part must come before private gain or personal 
interest.
    (b) Whether conduct or failure to act constitutes a violation of the 
professional duties imposed by this part is a matter within the sole 
discretion of

[[Page 511]]

JAG or officials authorized to act for JAG. Rules contained in subpart B 
of this part are not substitutes for, and do not take the place of, 
other rules and standards governing DON personnel such as the Department 
of Defense Joint Ethics Regulation, the Code of Conduct, the Uniform 
Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), and the general precepts of ethical 
conduct to which all DON service members and employees are expected to 
adhere. Similarly, action taken per this part is not supplanted or 
barred by, and does not, even if the underlying misconduct is the same, 
supplant or bar the following action from being taken by authorized 
officials:
    (1) Punitive or disciplinary action under the UCMJ; or
    (2) Administrative action under the Manual for Courts-Martial, U.S. 
Navy Regulations, or under other applicable authority.
    (c) Inquiries into allegations of professional misconduct will 
normally be held in abeyance until any related criminal investigation or 
proceeding is complete. However, a pending criminal investigation or 
proceeding does not bar the initiation or completion of a professional 
misconduct investigation (subpart C of this part) stemming from the same 
or related incidents or prevent the JAG from imposing professional 
disciplinary sanctions as provided for in this part.