
      The Director may, after notice and opportunity for a hearing,
    suspend or exclude, either generally or in any particular case,
    from further practice before the Patent and Trademark Office, any
    person, agent, or attorney shown to be incompetent or disreputable,
    or guilty of gross misconduct, or who does not comply with the
    regulations established under section 2(b)(2)(D) of this title, or
    who shall, by word, circular, letter, or advertising, with intent
    to defraud in any manner, deceive, mislead, or threaten any
    applicant or prospective applicant, or other person having
    immediate or prospective business before the Office. The reasons
    for any such suspension or exclusion shall be duly recorded. The
    Director shall have the discretion to designate any attorney who is
    an officer or employee of the United States Patent and Trademark
    Office to conduct the hearing required by this section. The United
    States District Court for the District of Columbia, under such
    conditions and upon such proceedings as it by its rules determines,
    may review the action of the Director upon the petition of the
    person so refused recognition or so suspended or excluded.

Last modified: April 19, 2006