Rule 7 - Grounds for Discipline; Sanctions Imposed; Deferred Discipline Agreement(a) Grounds for Discipline. It shall be a ground for discipline for a lawyer to: (1) violate or attempt to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 407, SCACR, or any other rules of this jurisdiction regarding professional conduct of lawyers;(2) engage in conduct violating applicable rules of professional conduct of another jurisdiction;(3) willfully violate a valid order of the Supreme Court, Commission or panels of the Commission in a proceeding under these rules, willfully fail to appear personally as directed, willfully fail to comply with a subpoena issued under these rules, or knowingly fail to respond to a lawful demand from a disciplinary authority to include a request for a response or appearance under Rule 19(b)(1), (c)(3) or (c)(4);(4) be convicted of a crime of moral turpitude or a serious crime;(5) engage in conduct tending to pollute the administration of justice or to bring the courts or the legal profession into disrepute or conduct demonstrating an unfitness to practice law;(6) violate the oath of office taken to practice law in this state and contained in Rule 402, SCACR;(7) willfully violate a valid court order issued by a court of this state or of another jurisdiction;(8) employ a person in violation of Rule 34;(9) willfully fail to comply with the terms of a finally accepted deferred disciplinary agreement or any terms of a finally accepted agreement for discipline by consent; and,(10) willfully fail to comply with a final decision of the Resolution of Fee Disputes Board.(b) Sanctions. Misconduct shall be grounds for one or more of the following sanctions:(2) suspension for a definite period from the office of attorney at law. The period of the suspension shall not exceed 3 years and shall be set by the Supreme Court;(4) admonition, provided that an admonition may be used in subsequent proceedings as evidence of prior misconduct solely upon the issue of sanction to be imposed;(5) restitution to persons financially injured, repayment of unearned or inequitable attorney's fees or costs advanced by the client, and reimbursement to the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection;(6) assessment of the costs of the proceedings, including the cost of hearings, investigations, prosecution, service of process and court reporter services;(7) assessment of a fine;(8) limitations on the nature and extent of the lawyer's future practice;(10) any other sanction or requirement as the Supreme Court may determine is appropriate.Amended by Order issued August 20, 2003, effective 9/1/2003. This amendment added Rule 7(a)(9) and (10).Amended by Order Dated September 22, 2004, effective immediate. This amended changed the language in Rule (7)(a)(6) to recognize the Court's adoption of a new Lawyer's Oath; amended effective 1/17/2018; amended by Order dated 8/8/2018, effective immediately.