Attorney-client privilege does not apply in disciplinary proceedings

OG 1994 36Other CourtNov 22, 1993Not Examined

Extracted by Omnilex

Omnilex summary

The excerpt states that, according to settled practice, parties in disciplinary proceedings before the lawyers' supervisory authority are deemed released from confidentiality without any formal waiver procedure. It further notes that in Zürich the attorney-client privilege does not apply vis-à-vis the supervisory commission in pending disciplinary proceedings.

Omnilex headnote

Attorney-client secrecy; disciplinary proceedings before the supervisory authority over lawyers: the parties are deemed released from confidentiality vis-à-vis the disciplinary authority without a formal waiver procedure. The privilege is therefore not opposable in proceedings pending before the supervisory body; Zürich practice is cited as confirming this exception to confidentiality.

Full text

Es entspricht längst gefestigter Praxis der Aufsichtsbehörde über die Rechtsanwälte, dass die Parteien im Rahmen des Disziplinarverfahrens gegenüber der Aufsichtsbehörde ohne formelles Entbindungsverfahren von der Geheimhaltungspflicht entbunden sind. Auch im Kanton Zürich gilt das Anwaltsgeheimnis gegenüber der Aufsichtskommission über die Rechtsanwälte in bei dieser hängigen Disziplinarverfahren nicht (ZR 75 [1976] Nr. 28 S. 98 f.).

Keywords

attorney-client privilegeconfidentialitydisciplinary proceedingslawyerssupervisory authority

Extracted by Omnilex

Key legal questions extracted by Omnilex

Key legal question

Whether attorney-client confidentiality applies vis-à-vis the supervisory authority in pending disciplinary proceedings without formal release.

Extracted holding

The parties are treated as released from confidentiality in disciplinary proceedings before the supervisory authority; no formal waiver procedure is required.

Extracted reasoning

Established practice accepts that, in disciplinary proceedings, confidentiality does not operate against the supervisory authority. The cited Zürich practice confirms that the lawyer's privilege is not applicable before the supervisory commission in such proceedings.

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