Cause for concern: Increasing confusion between politics and ethics in regulation of the professions

The President of the State Bar of Arizona, Dan McAuliffe, has posted an article titled, Thomas Investigation No ‘Witch Hunt’ in the Arizona Republic and on the website of the State Bar of Arizona.

. . . The State Bar’s Lawyer Regulation Department is investigating accusations that Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas demonstrated unethical conduct on several occasions. Thomas has objected to that. He says the state Bar investigations are politically motivated, and he wants the Arizona Supreme Court to do something about it . . .

Thomas, a conservative, claims that he has been targeted by certain political interests due to his stand on immigration.

Irrespective of the merits of this individual case, the increasing confusion between politics and ethics in the regulation of various professions is cause for concern.  In some instances, this confusion poses a direct threat to religious freedom.