Lori Kaniper, Esquirette | REPRIMANDED

New Jer­sey. Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

On this date, in the Gar­den State, the Supreme Court of New Jer­sey rep­ri­manded Lori A. Kaniper for prac­tic­ing law as an assis­tant county pros­e­cu­tor dur­ing a period when she knew she was inel­i­gi­ble to prac­tice law. Hmmm. We’re con­fused. Pros­e­cu­tors don’t prac­tice law? Maybe tech­ni­cally they aren’t con­sid­ered “prac­tic­ing” but doing it for real.

Madam Kaniper secured the pay­ment of her annual reg­is­tra­tion fee from the pros­e­cu­tor but failed to use that money to pay the fee and pre­vent the Supreme Court from declar­ing her inel­i­gi­ble to practice.

Now were really con­fused. Absolutely dis­ori­ented in fact. The pros­e­cu­tor is pay­ing her dues even though she’s not eli­gi­ble to “prac­tice law” while she’s a pros­e­cu­tor? Do the tax­pay­ers know about this scam? Cer­tainly not!

Michael J. Sweeney, Esquire rep­re­sented the Office of Attor­ney Ethics before the Dis­ci­pline Review Board. Madam Kaniper appeared pro se. Was her pro se appear­ance con­sid­ered “prac­tic­ing law?” When she wasn’t sup­posed to be? This case is baffling.

Have there been any other instances of “mis­con­duct” by Ms. Kaniper that haven’t been addressed by Office of Attor­ney Ethics?