Opinion ID: 2219124
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Observations and Perceptions and the Attorney-Client Privilege

Text: ¶ 35. As noted above, courts in other jurisdictions are split on the question of whether an attorney's opinions, perceptions, and impressions of his or her client are covered by the attorney-client privilege. The majority of these courts have held that the attorney-client privilege only protects confidential communications between an attorney and his or her client. An attorney's opinions, perceptions, and impressions of a former client's mental competency are, therefore, not protected by the privilege if they do not reveal the substance of their communications. See Darrow v. Gunn, 594 F.2d 767 (9th Cir. 1979); United States v. David, 511 F.2d 355, 360 (D.C. Cir. 1975); Clanton v. United States, 488 F.2d 1069 (5th Cir. 1974); United States v. Tom, 340 F.2d 127 (2nd Cir. 1965); Kendrick, 331 F.2d 110; Howell v. United States, 282 F.Supp. 246 (N.D. Ill. 1968); People v. Kinder, 512 N.Y.S.2d 597 (N.Y. App. Div. 1987); Jones v. District Court, 617 P.2d 803 (Colo. 1980). ¶ 36. However, a number of other courts have held that disclosure of even non-verbal communications, such as the ones at issue here, violates the attorney-client privilege. Gunther v. United States, 230 F.2d 222 (D.C. Cir. 1956) (any expression as to the client's mental competency necessarily embraces more than facts observable by anyone); Kendrick, 331 F.2d 110 (Sobeloff, C.J., (concurring) (it necessarily follows that the attorney's opinions are based upon discussions with the client); Bishop v. Superior Court, 724 P.2d 23 (Ariz. 1986); State v. Adams, 283 S.E.2d 582 (S.C. 1981) (any professional impressions drawn by the attorney should be privileged). ¶ 37. These cases hold that it is difficult, or nearly impossible, for an attorney to testify regarding an opinion of the client's competency to proceed without violating the attorney-client privilege. For example, in Gunther the court held prior counsel cannot be called by the government to testify and give an opinion regarding his former client's mental competency, because this would necessarily be premised upon, and could potentially reveal, factual data protected under the attorney-client privilege. In particular, the court said: If trial counsel in a criminal case could be called by the Government and asked to give an opinion as to the accused's competency and ability to assist in the defense, he could necessarily also be asked for the factual data upon which he premised his opinion. These questions would open to inquiry by the Government the entire relationship between the accused and his counsel. Such revelations would be a violation of the attorney-client privilege and would also invade an accused's right to counsel in the trial of the criminal charge. Gunther, 230 F.2d at 223-24. ¶ 38. In addition to opening the door to questions involving the relationship between the accused and counsel, other courts have held that a lawyer's observations are inextricably intertwined with communications between the attorney and the client, and the lawyer's opinion as to the client's competency is based upon conclusions drawn in the course of a unique attorney-client relationship. Kendrick, 331 F.2d 110. The Kendrick Court said: Any expression as to the client's mental competency necessarily embrace[s] more than facts observable by anyone it comprehend[s] conclusions drawn in the course of an association that is uniquely regarded in the law. Id. at 115. See also Bishop, 724 P.2d at 29 (stating that it defies reality to pretend that the lawyer has formed opinions on competency without relying upon discussions with the defendant). ¶ 39. Moreover, in State v. Adams , the court held that the entire setting of the confidential conference must be protected as well. To lend privilege to the words spoken but to allow disclosure of professional impressions drawn from the manner of their delivery all but destroys the substance of the privilege. Adams, 283 S.E.2d at 586. [9] ¶ 40. We agree with the jurisdictions that hold that an attorneys opinions, perceptions, and impressions of a client's competency to proceed are protected by the attorney-client privilege. An attorney's opinion of a client's mental competency is based largely upon private communications with the client. In a law review article, The Role of the Criminal Defense Lawyer in Representing the Mentally Impaired Defendant: Zealous Advocate or Officer of the Court?, the author Rodney Uphoff states: . . . it is clear that a criminal defense lawyer . . . often forms his opinion of a client's competency largely as a result of private communications with the client. The protection of the attorney-client privilege is not limited only to the client's words but may include the client's nonverbal communications. A number of courts have held that a lawyer can be compelled to testify regarding counsel's opinion of a client's competency even though the lawyer's observations would involve privileged client communications, but the better reasoned position is that a lawyer's opinion about a client's competence or state of mind is inextricably mixed with the client's private communications. 1988 Wis. L. Rev. 65, 91. (citations omitted). ¶ 41. The testimony of Meeks' former attorney, Scholle, regarding Meeks' mental competency did not involve facts observable by just anyoneotherwise her testimony would not have been required by a subpoena from the State. Furthermore, Scholle's testimony necessarily involved the entire confidential conference setting, as well as the revelation of information conveyed to her through her private, confidential conversations with Meeks.