The first day of a hearing was held last week before a District of Columbia hearing committee on charges of ethical violations against former Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy Claude Allen ( Wikipedia entry linked here). He had been convicted of a misdemeanor theft offense and is charged with conviction of a crime of moral turpitude. If the offense does involve moral turpitude on its facts, disbarment is mandatory. The matter was continued to April 28, at which time Mr. Allen will testify. (Mike Frisch)