Confidentiality
Author | David Layton; Michel Proulx |
Pages | 157-207 |
157
CHAPTER 4
CONFIDENTIALITY
A. INTRODUCTION
The lawyer’s duty to keep confidential all information received as a
result of representing a client is a core obligation of the professional
relationship. The scope of this duty is exceptionally broad, demand-
ing that counsel take great care in handling all information pertaining
to or affecting a client. At the same time, there are exceptions to the
duty of confidentiality that permit, and sometimes even demand, dis-
closure of such information by the lawyer. Determining the instances
where exceptions should apply raises some of the most controversial
and daunting ethical problems facing the criminal bar today.
This chapter examines the lawyer’s duty of confidentiality to the
client with an eye to some of the problems and concerns that can arise
in a criminal practice. It also reviews instances where a lawyer owes
a duty of confidentiality to non-clients, the most important of which
concerns the proper handling of disclosure materials received from
the Crown. Possible justifications for breaching confidentiality are dis-
cussed in other chapters, including Chapter 5 (confidentiality excep-
tions), Chapter 7 (client perjury), and Chapter 10 (physical evidence
relevant to a crime).
ETHICS AND CRIMINAL LAW158
B. RATIONALE
The standard justification for imposing a duty of confidentiality on law-
yers is that the client who is assured of complete secrecy is more likely
to reveal to his counsel all information pertaining to the case.1 The
lawyer who is in possession of all relevant information is better able
to advise the client and hence provide competent service,2 furthering
both the client’s legal rights and the truth-finding function of the ad-
versarial system.3 The obligation to maintain confidentiality also pro-
tects the client’s privacy,4 as well as promoting autonomy and dignity
by facilitating her control over personal information and the conduct
of the defence.5 And the duty of confidentiality is closely connected
to the overarching duty of loyalty owed by a lawyer to the client. The
obligation to be loyal would be compromised if a lawyer could use in-
formation so as to adversely impact the client. A complete bar on the
unauthorized use of confidential information by counsel, even where
no adverse impact is possible, accordingly serves a prophylactic func-
tion that helps to ensure undivided loyalty.
What is more, solicitor-client privilege and thus by implication the
ethical duty of confidentiality acquires “an added dimension” where
1 See SmithvJones (1999), 132 CCC (3d) 225 at para 46 (SCC) [Smith]; RvMc-
Clure, 2001 SCC 14 at paras 31–33 [McClure]; R v Brown, 2002 SCC 32 at para 27
[Brown]; Foster W heeler Power Co v SIGED Inc, 2004 SCC 18 at para 34 [Foster
Wheeler Power]; Pritchard v Ontar io (Human Rights Commission), 2004 SCC 31
at para 14 [Pritchard]; Can ada (Privacy Commissioner) v Blood Tribe Depart ment
paras 26 –27 [Cunningham].
2 See Alta, Sa sk r 2.03(1) (commentary); BC, Man, Ont, NS, NL r 3.3 -1, commen-
tary 1; NB ch 5, comment ary 1; CBA Code ch IV, commentary 1.
3 See Maranda v Richer, 2003 SCC 67 at para 37 [Maranda]; RvJoanisse (1995 ),
102 CCC (3d) 35 at 57 [para 64] (Ont CA) [Joanisse], leave to appeal to SCC
refused (1996), 111 CCC (3d) vi (SCC). For a rights-ba sed justification of
solicitor-client priv ilege and so by extension confid entiality, see Adam Dodek,
“Reconceiving S olicitor-Client Privilege” (2010) 35 Queen’s LJ 493 at 519–20,
522, and 52 3–25.
4 See Lavallee, Rackel & Heint z v Canada (AG), 2002 SCC 61 at paras 35 and 4 9
[Lavallee]; CBA Code ch IV, commentary 3.
5 The importance of autonomy and d ignity in terms of control ling a criminal de-
fence is recogni zed in R v Swain(1991), 63 CCC (3d) 481 at 505– 6 [paras 35–36]
(SCC). The autonomy-ba sed rationale for protecting solic itor-cl ient privilege is
recognize d in General Accident Assurance Co v Chr usz(1999), 180 DLR (4th) 241
at para 92 (Ont CA); College of Physicians of British Columbia v Br itish Columbia
(Information and P rivacy Commissioner), 2002 BCCA 665 at para 30. See also
Alan Str udler, “Belief and Betrayal: Con fidentiality in Cri minal Defense Prac-
tice” (2000) 69 U Cin L Rev 245.
Confidentiality 159
the client is the subject of a criminal investigation. The “promise of
confidentiality” engaged by the privilege is particularly vital because
the client is facing the state as a “singular antagonist.”6 More specific-
ally, maintaining client confidences i s especially important in the cr im-
inal context because doing so substantially furthers the client’s ability
to exercise constitutional rights against the state.7
In promoting effective legal advice, the duty of confidentiality not
only benefits the individual client but also serves a broader societal in-
terest. As already noted, a client who is able to rely on the assurance of
confidentiality is more likely to receive sound legal counsel. As a result,
he is more likely to obey the law and if charged with a crime is better
able to mount a defence. It is in the public interest that these ends be
encouraged, and the duty of confidentiality t hus advances fundamental
systemic goals.
C. THE RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
All Canadian rules of professional conduct strongly assert the lawyer’s
duty of confidentiality. The basic rule promulgated by most law societies
states:
The lawyer at all ti mes must hold in strict confidence all inform ation
concerning the bu siness and affairs of a client acq uired in the course
of the professional relationship and must not divulge any such infor-
mation unle ss:
(a) ex pressly or impliedly authorized by the client;
(b) required by law or a cour t to do so;
(c) required to deliver the inform ation to the Society; or
(d) otherwise permitted or required by this rule.8
The breadth of the duty of confidentiality imposed by the ethical
rules is discussed in detail below. It is nonetheless worth stressing that
the Canadian rules do not merely import a description of confidential-
ity that has independently been delineated elsewhere, for instance, by
6 Lavallee, above note 4 at para 23.
7 A largely right s-based justificat ion of defence counsel’s role is provided in
Chapter 1, Section D. See al so Section F, below in this chapter.
8 Alta, Sask r 2.03(1); BC, Man, NS, NL r 3-3.1. Ont r 3-3.1 uses alm ost the same
wording. See al so Que s 3.06; Professional Code, CQLR c C-26, s 60.4; An act
respecting the Barreau du Q uebec, CQLR c B-1, s 131; NB ch 5, rule; C BA Code ch
IV, r 1.
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