The chief counsel of the State Bar of Arizona wants to free up attorneys to reveal more confidential information they obtain from their clients.
But he said there's a good reason for it: It could prevent unnecessary injury or death.
Now, he just needs to convince the state Supreme Court to go along.
The current rule requires attorneys in Arizona to reveal information they have in the extent that they believe that the disclosure is necessary to keep the client from committing a crime "the lawyer believes is likely to result in death or substantial bodily harm."
But Robert Van Wyck said Arizona's rule does come up short in one area:
They cannot provide confidential information unless the client is going to commit a crime.
What Van Wyck wants is a newrule that permits - but does not require - attorneys who have this kind of information to be able to disclose it, something not covered under the existing ethics rules.
