Most lawyers believe that if they file a document in court or with a public agency the Rules of Professional Conduct (“the Rules”) do not prohibit them from speaking about the information in the document to anyone. Most lawyers believe that what is said in open court can be discussed by a lawyer with anyone. Most lawyers believe that there is a public records exception to the rule of confidentiality that is set forth in Rule 1.6.
Most lawyers would be wrong holding such beliefs, according to the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility (“the Committee”).
