Today I am feeling vindicated.  In the past, have written blogs about my experience being called, “Honey” or “B###h,” by male attorneys or, otherwise being sexually harassed. In the blogs, I wrote about my feelings of degradation and anger.

Last week The New York Times reported that The American Bar Association is considering an amendment to the Rules of Professional Practice that would prohibit harassment and discrimination by lawyers  in the course of practicing law on the basis of “race, sex, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, or socioeconomic status.”  If the amendment is adopted, participating bar associations can mete out sanctions ranging from fines to suspension from practicing law.

Proponents of the measure point out that most businesses have similar bans on such behavior yet the legal profession lacks any similar prohibition on discriminatory behavior. Opponents of the measure-many of whom are women- argue that it is a free speech issue, that it would “have a chilling effect on the ability of lawyers to practice law.”

As for me, I believe that a competent lawyer can effectively argue on behalf of his client’s position without resorting to calling me “Honey” or “B###h.”  But I wonder whether my own experience is coloring my point of view. Absent a reason concerning one’s personal safety, do we have the right to restrict one another’s speech in the workplace?