Opinion ID: 1776416
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: did the trial court commit reversible error in admitting into evidence the testimony of david walker, former attorney of the defendant?

Text: The relevancy and admissibility of evidence are largely within the discretion of the trial court and reversal may be had only where that discretion has been abused. Johnston v. State, 567 So.2d 237, 238 (Miss. 1990), citing Hentz v. State, 542 So.2d 914, 917 (Miss. 1989), Monk v. State, 532 So.2d 592, 599 (Miss. 1988). Unless the trial judge's discretion is so abused as to be prejudicial to the accused, this Court will not reverse his ruling. Shearer v. State, 423 So.2d 824, 826 (Miss. 1983), citing Page v. State, 295 So.2d 279 (Miss. 1974). The discretion of the trial judge must be exercised within the boundaries of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence. Johnston, at 238. Flowers contends that his statement offered via Walker's testimony, summarized above under the first issue, was a violation of attorney/client privilege under the Mississippi Rules of Evidence, Rule 502(b). This rule reads as follows: A client has a privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent any other person from disclosing confidential communications made for the purpose of facilitating the rendition of professional legal services to the client (1) between himself or his representative and his lawyer or his lawyer's representative, (2) between his lawyer and the lawyer's representative, (3) by him or his representative or his lawyer or a representative of the lawyer to a lawyer or a representative of a lawyer representing another party in a pending action and concerning a matter of common interest therein, (4) between representatives of the client or between the client and a representative of the client, or (5) among lawyers and their representatives representing the same client. M.R.E. 502(b). Confidential communications are those not intended to be disclosed to third persons other than those to whom disclosure is made in furtherance of the rendition of professional legal services to the client or those reasonably necessary for the transmission of the communication. M.R.E. 502(a)(5). Walker testified that Flowers made the statement at issue to Smith after the polygraph test had been administered, in the presence of Deputy Cosby and a student deputy named Allen Mills, in addition to Walker himself and Smith. At the suppression hearing Smith testified that Flowers made the statement at issue to him, Smith, before the polygraph test when no one else was present. During Smith's trial testimony he was not questioned about the absence or presence of others when the statement was made. First, Flowers' statement to Smith does not fall within the parameters of M.R.E. 502(b). Smith was not Flowers' lawyer or his lawyer's representative, a lawyer or representative of a lawyer representing the State in the matter, nor was he Flowers' representative. Therefore, the statement made to Smith is not controlled by M.R.E. 502(b). Additionally, if we proceed on the assumption that Walker's version is true, the statement is not confidential as defined in M.R.E. 502(a)(5) and used in M.R.E. 502(b). The test for confidentiality is intent... . Intent can be inferred from the particular circumstances. M.R.E. 502(a)(5), Comment. According to Walker's testimony, there were two people present at the time the statement was made, in addition to himself and Smith. Even if Smith fit into one of the categories of persons listed in M.R.E. 502(b), which he does not, no intent that the statement be a confidential attorney/client communication can be inferred from these circumstances. Working on the belief that Smith's version is true, the statement may be considered confidential pursuant to M.R.E. 502(a)(5), but it is still not controlled by M.R.E. 502(b) as a statement which Flowers could protect by asserting attorney/client privilege. If, however, Smith's version is true, how was Walker privy to the same statement? We can only assume that the statement was communicated from Flowers to Walker during the course of their attorney/client relationship. In this instance, the statement would be subject to the assertion of attorney/client privilege by Flowers pursuant to M.R.E. 502(b). Furthermore, the statement would be a confidential communication as defined by M.R.E. 502(a)(5) and used in M.R.E. 502(b). In this case, Flowers' objection on the grounds of attorney/client privilege should have been sustained and Walker's testimony should not have been allowed. Although Walker's testimony should not have been allowed under the last scenario, the statement at issue could still have been introduced via Smith's testimony. In order to admit the statement, it is not necessary to determine which situation in fact occurred, as Smith could have testified in any event. The question here is not the admissibility of the statement per se, but the admissibility of the testimony of Walker, Flowers' former attorney in this cause. A lawyer's job at trial is to act as an advocate for his client. If the lawyer becomes a witness at the trial, it is easy to see how the jury could be confused by this dual role. Should his testimony be taken as proof or just a comment on the proof? Although Walker was not still representing Flowers at the time of trial, he had previously represented him in this same matter. It follows that the jury may have given his testimony more weight than that of the average lay witness. The fact that Walker no longer represented Flowers and testified against him may even have been taken to mean that once Walker learned what Flowers had done he wanted to help convict him rather than represent him. We can only speculate as to what Walker's testimony meant to the jury. However, under the totality of the circumstances, Walker's testimony merely corroborated Smith's testimony regarding Flowers' statement; we find its admission was unnecessary and cumulative, yet harmless error. Nonetheless, in order to provide future guidance to the bench and bar, we feel compelled to address the reasons this decision is not without reservation. It should be noted that several Rules of Professional Conduct appear to have been violated by Walker as a result of his testimony. Rule 1.6(a) provides that a lawyer shall not reveal information relating to representation of a client unless the client consents after consultation... . Lawyer/client confidentiality is a fundamental principle in the lawyer/client relationship. It is this principle which allows the full and frank communication necessary for proper legal representation. See Rule 1.6, Comment. The confidentiality of Rule 1.6 is broader in scope than that provided for by M.R.E. 502. Rule 1.6 applies to all information relating to legal representation rather than just to confidential communications. Rule 1.6, Comment. Such information may be revealed by the lawyer only in certain exceptions, i.e., to prevent a criminal act, to establish a claim or defense for the lawyer or to respond to allegations brought against the lawyer, or if required by law or court order. Rule 1.6(b)(1) and (2) and (c). Most importantly for this particular situation, [t]he duty of confidentiality continues after the client-lawyer relationship has terminated. Rule 1.6, Comment. This confidentiality is too important a principle for this Court to allow it to be ignored. The public is better protected if full and open communication by the client is encouraged than if it is inhibited. Rule 1.6, Comment. Although Walker was subpoenaed as a witness in this trial, he did not attempt to assert the attorney/client privilege on behalf of Flowers nor did he assert Rule 1.6 to keep confidential any information obtained in conjunction with his representation of Flowers. If lawyers are not required to comply with the Rules of Professional Conduct, why not do away with them entirely? It is only by enforcing these Rules that the law and the legal profession will be improved. Neglect in the observance of these Rules compromises the independence of the profession and the public interest which it serves. Rules of Professional Conduct, Preamble. Walker may also have run into trouble with Rule 1.8(b)(1) (a lawyer shall not use information relating to representation of a client to the disadvantage of the client) and Rule 1.9(b) (a lawyer who formerly represented a client in a matter shall not subsequently use information relating to the representation to the disadvantage of the former client except as permitted by Rule 1.6 or when the information has become generally known). It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to ... violate the rules of professional conduct... . Rule 8.4. It was foolish of the prosecution to call Walker as a witness and foolish of Walker to testify so readily when the integrity of the legal profession would be compromised thereby and such testimony would add nothing to the state's case. The trial judge erred in admitting Walker's testimony. By the offer and admission of this cumulative and questionable testimony, the state nearly succeeded in turning a simple, clean conviction into a reversal and retrial. Gilding can never improve the lily.