ATTORNEYS AT LAW AND ATTORNEYS IN FACT 385

office, and to make memoranda or notes therefrom for any lawful purposes
whatsoever, without payment of fees therefor, and also to examine the
records and indexes in the aforesaid offices free of charge; and it shall be
the duty of the clerk or register aforesaid in whose office said paper or
papers are filed or records and indexes are kept, to afford immediate access
to said papers or records, and a full opportunity to the person or persons
desiring to make an examination of the same and memoranda therefrom
for the purpose aforesaid.

Oath of Attorneys at Law.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 9. 1912, sec. 8. 1904, sec. 8. 1888, sec. 10. 1777, ch. 5, sec. 1.
1854, ch. 18, sec. 2. 1865, ch. 114. 1867, ch. 126.

10. Every attorney or other practitioner at law shall in open court take
and prescribe the following oath or affirmation: I do solemnly swear (or
affirm) that I will at all times demean myself fairly and honorably as an
attorney and practitioner at law; that I will bear true allegiance to the
State of Maryland, and support the laws and constitution thereof, and that
I will bear true allegiance to the United States, and that I will support,
protect and defend the constitution, laws and government thereof as the
supreme law of the land; any law or ordinance of this or any State to the
contrary notwithstanding.

Misconduct of Attorneys—Negligence—Disbarment—Suspension.

An, Code, 1924, sec. 10. 1912, sec. 9. 1904, sec. 9. 1888, sec. 11. 1719, ch. 4, sec. 2.

1929, ch. 370, sec. 10.

11. The judges of the several courts of this State shall observe the
demeanor of all attorneys practising the law before them, who shall use
any indecent liberties to the lessening of the grandeur and authority of
their respective courts, and shall discountenance and punish the same
according to the nature of the offense, either by suspending such attorney
from his practice for a time, not exceeding thirty days, or by fine (at the
discretion of the court) not exceeding Fifty Dollars for any one offense.
Cited but not construed in Helms v. Franciscus, 2 Bl. 565 (note).

An. Code, 1924, sec. 10A. 1929, ch. 370, sec. 10A.

12. Whenever a judge of any of the several courts of this State shall
have reasonable ground to believe that any attorney admitted to the prac-
tice of law in his court is guilty of professional misconduct, malpractice,
fraud, deceit, crime involving moral turpitude, or conduct prejudicial to
the administration of justice, he shall issue an order directed to the Bar
Association and/or State's Attorney of the City or County, as the case
may be, in which his said court is located, requiring said Bar Association
and/or State's Attorney to prosecute the charges named in said order on
a day specified therein, which day shall not be less than fifteen or more
than sixty days from the date of said order, and shall direct that a copy
of said order be forthwith served on said attorney. If it appear that said
charges cannot be served on said attorney within the State, the same may
be served upon him without the State by mail or otherwise, as the Court
shall by its order direct.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 10B. 1929, ch. 370, sec. 10B.

13. Charges of professional misconduct, malpractice, fraud, deceit,
crime involving moral turpitude, or conduct prejudicial to the administra-
14