1 / 36

Jon Canerday OGC, National Credit Union Administration

Professional Responsibility. Jon Canerday OGC, National Credit Union Administration. 2009 Federal Health Law Symposium. Goals of Instruction. Review selected ethical rules and issues Comprehend applicability of the Rules

vicki
Download Presentation

Jon Canerday OGC, National Credit Union Administration

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Professional Responsibility Jon Canerday OGC, National Credit Union Administration 2009 Federal Health Law Symposium

  2. Goals of Instruction Review selected ethical rules and issues Comprehend applicability of the Rules Understand supervisory duties related to the Professional Rules of Ethics

  3. References • Army - AR 27-26(1 May 92) • Air Force - TJAG Policy MR • Standard (TJS) (Dec 02) • Navy - JAGINST 5803.1C(9 Nov 2004) • DOD - GC Memo ( 30 Nov 1981) • ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct

  4. Who Do the Standards Apply to? • Service Rules of Professional Conduct • All JA’s – Active, National Guard, & Reserve • DoD civilian Attorneys • All personnel who perform duties in DoD legal offices • DOD Civilian Attorneys: • Standards of Conduct, DOD Directive 5500.7 • ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct • Federal Ethical Considerations • State Bar Rules

  5. Government Attorneys • Army rules apply when practicing before tribunals pursuant to UCMJ or MCM • Navy rules apply in any matter under the cognizance of TJAG • Air Force rules do not apply to non-Air Force attorneys

  6. Effect of Rules • Rules provide a basis for taking disciplinary action • Attorneys must adhere to both letter and spirit of rules • Only rules are binding, comments are guidance

  7. Other Sources of Ethical Rules • Service Regulations • JER • ABA Standards forCriminal Justice • Licensing Jurisdiction • Ethics Code Where Practicing

  8. ResolvingEthical Conflicts • Practical approach • Follow the most restrictive rule • Seek alternate solutions • Alternate counsel • Opinion or waiver(Coordinate w/ Tech Chain!) • Follow Service Rule if performing official duties – unless practicing in State or Federal court

  9. Confidentiality of Information (Rule 1.6) • General rule – A lawyer shall not reveal any information relating to the representation of a client • No distinction between confidences and secrets • Includes information obtained prior to formation of attorney client relationship

  10. Confidentiality Rule Applies to Government Attorneys • In Re Lackey, 333 Ore. 215; 37 P. 3d 172 (2002)

  11. Exceptions to Confidentiality • Consent • Carry out the representation • Establish a claim or defense • Required or authorized to do so by law • Future crimes

  12. Confidentiality: Future Crimes • Lawyer reasonably believes disclosure is necessary to prevent a crime which is likely to: • Result in imminent death or substantial bodily harm, or • Significantly impair the readiness or capability of a military unit, vessel, aircraft, orweapon system.

  13. Conflicts of Interest Rule 1.7(a) • A lawyer shall not represent a client if the representation will be directly adverse to another client unless: • The lawyer reasonably believes not adversely affect the other relationship and • Each client consents after consultation • Must withdraw if conflict develops

  14. Representation Materially Limited Rule 1.7(b) • A lawyer is also precluded from representing a client if the representation would be materially limited by the lawyer’s responsibility to another client, a third party or by the lawyer’s own interests unless; • The lawyer reasonably believes the representation will not be adversely affected and • The client consents after consultation

  15. Imputed DisqualificationRule 1.10 • General Rule • Not automatic • Functional analysis • Will the following be compromised: • Preserving attorney client privilege • Maintaining independence of judgment • Avoiding positions adverse to the client

  16. Fairness to Opposing Party, Counsel Rule 3.4(a) • A lawyer shall not unlawfully obstruct another party’s access to evidence or unlawfully alter, destroy, or conceal a document or other material having potential evidentiary value • A lawyer can not counsel or assist another person to do such an act

  17. Agency as the ClientRule 1.13 • USA, USAF, USMC, USN, or DoD is your client unless you are in LA or TDS • Illegal acts by officials • Ask to reconsider • Get separate legal opinion • Seek personal counsel • Consult technical supervisor

  18. Communications with Third Parties • Communication when represented (4.2) • Only through attorney • Cannot direct another to contact party • Communication when not represented (4.3) • Cannot state disinterested • Refrain from giving advice • Respect for 3rd persons (4.4) • Embarrass, delay or burden

  19. Impartiality, Decorum of Tribunal(Rule 3.5) • A lawyer shall not • Seek to influence a judge, court member, of other official by prohibited means • Communicate ex parte with the same • Disrupt a tribunal

  20. “Counselor, are you trying to show contempt for this court?” “No , Your Honor, I’m trying very hard to conceal it.”

  21. Ex parte Communication • United Sates v. Copening, 34 M.J. 28 (C.M.A. 1992). • United States v. Hamilton, 41 M.J. 22 (C.M.A. 1994).

  22. Supervisory Responsibilities:Ensure Subordinates Comply with Rules • Includes lawyers (5.1), non-lawyers (5.3) • Training requirements – minimum 3 hours training per year for Army JAs • Imputed responsibility • Order or ratify • Failure to mitigate

  23. Subordinate’s Responsibilities:Bound by the Rules • Follow the rules when clear • Unclear? Rely onsupervisor’s judgment

  24. Professional Independence as a lawyer (Rule 5.4) • When representing individual clients, a lawyer is required to exercise unfettered loyalty and professional independence.

  25. Professional Responsibility Questions and Anecdotes

  26. One thing I supplicate your majesty: that you will give orders, under a great penalty, that no bachelors of law should be allowed to come here [the New World]; for not only are they bad themselves, but they also make and contrive a thousand inequities. Vasco Nuñez de Balboa to Ferdinand V of Spain, 1513

  27. A man may as well open an oyster without a knife as a lawyer's mouth without a fee. Barten Holyday, Technogamia, 1618

  28. Lawyer, n. One skilled in circumvention of the law. Litigant, n. A person about to give up his skin for the hope of retaining his bones. Litigation, n. A machine which you go into as a pig and come out of as a sausage. Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary, 1906

  29. I don't think you can make a lawyer honest by an act of legislature. You've got to work on his conscience. And his lack of conscience is what makes him a lawyer. Will Rogers , 15 March 1927

  30. A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns. Mario Puzo, The Godfather, 1969

  31. An incompetent attorney can delay a trial for years or months. A competent attorney can delay one even longer. Evelle J. Younger, quoted in the Los Angeles Times, 3 March 1971

  32. If you can eat sawdust without butter, you can be a success in the law. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes  (1841-1935) 

More Related