Ethics Opinion 19-1: Conflicts Imputation Between and Within Public Defender Offices

Question: In light of the Sixth Amendment right to the effective assistance of counsel and theAmerican Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, under what circumstances is aconflict of interest on the part of one public defender imputed to […]

Ethics Opinion 16-2: Circumstances in Which Lawyers Can, and Cannot, Communicate with Witnesses and Others Who May Be Represented

Question: The Ethics Counselors of the National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) have been asked to address the following scenario: A Public Defender’s Office (PDO) represents persons who have been civilly committed to state-run mental health facilities. In representing these […]

Ethics Opinion 16-1: When Defense Counsel Must Turn Over Material to the Prosecution

Question: The Ethics Counselors of the National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) havebeen asked to address the following scenario: An investigator working for Defense Counsel obtained a copy of a DVD from an in-store surveillance system recording the scene of […]

Ethics Opinion 14-1: Abuse Reporting Requirements for Defense Team Members

Question: The National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) has asked its Ethics Counselors to addressthe following significant question. Law firms and public defender offices often employ or contract with social workers and other healthcare professionals to assist lawyers in the […]