Friday, May 8, 2009

Elsie Law's Daily Dose Of The Law

"QUESTION: Can my lawyer repeat what I say to anyone without my permission?

ANSWER: No, with one important exception...Clients' statements to lawyers concerning an intention to commit a crime or a fraud in the future are usually not confidential. Judges can compel lawyers to testify to such statements...

The most basic principle underlying the lawyer-client relationship is that lawyer-client communications are privileged, or confidential. This means that lawyers can't reveal clients' oral or written statements (nor lawyers' own statements to clients) to anyone, including prosecutors, employers, friends, or family members, without their clients' consent. It matters not whether defendants confess their guilt or insist on their innocence- attorney-client communications are confidential." -From, "The Criminal Law Handbook" By: Bergman & Barrett

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