Some Queries on the Moral Commitment and the Ethical Attorney: Comments on Thomas M. Jones

“Moral Commitment and the Ethical Attorney†by Thomas M. Jones provides an interesting approach to discourse on ethical issues. By combining the studies of psychologists with those of an economist, the author has made a valuable contribution to the developing field of business ethics. The theories of cognitive moral development advanced by Piaget, Kohlberg, Gilligan, and others blend well and are illuminated by the behavioral options suggested by Hirschman from the field of economics. The options of “exit, voice, and loyalty†appear to be useful as tools for an attorney when determining appropriate moral behavior in difficult situations. The author makes a well-reasoned, strong argument that voice ought to be the preferred option or at least the encouraged option for attorneys faced with moral tension between the legal rules whether found in the legal profession itself or outlined in the Rules of Professional Conduct. The author's approach has emphasized the importance of drawing upon a variety of disciplines to shed light upon the processes of ethical decision making.