I was reinstated to the practice of law in Pennsylvania by the state Supreme Court. Can I practice in federal court? What is the procedure for being reinstated in federal court?
Surprisingly, some attorneys do not realize that if they are suspended in the Pennsylvania courts and later reinstated, they also have to seek reinstatement in the federal courts. If a lawyer is suspended by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, then the lawyer has an obligation to notify all other jurisdictions in which the lawyer is admitted, including courts such as the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Similarly, when the lawyer is reinstated in the Pennsylvania courts, the lawyer must also seek reinstatement in the federal courts. There is no automatic reinstatement in the federal court just because the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has reinstated an attorney. These admission processes are two separate jurisdictions and each has its own rules and procedures.
