Ethics Opinions

Disclosure of Client's Prior Driving Record

 

Opinion rules that a defense lawyer may remain silent while the prosecutor presents an inaccurate driving record to the court provided the lawyer and client did not criminally or fraudulently misrepresent the driving record to the prosecutor or the court and, further provided, that on application for a limited driving privilege, there is no misrepresentation to the court about the prior driving record.

 

Inquiry #1:

 

Client was charged with driving while impaired (DWI). Attorney A represented him at trial where Client was convicted. At the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor informed the court that Client had no record of prior convictions for DWI. Attorney A and Client were aware, however, that Client was convicted of DWI in federal court but the federal court failed to forward information regarding the conviction to the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles for inclusion in Client's driving record. Therefore, when the prosecutor checked the driving record, he found no record of the prior conviction. At the sentencing hearing, Attorney A and Client remained silent when the prosecutor informed the court that Client had no prior convictions for DWI. Neither Attorney A nor Client made any affirmative misrepresentations to the court about Client's driving record. The judge sentenced Client to punishment level three which can only be imposed if the court determines that the defendant has not been convicted of a prior DWI within the previous seven years.

 

Was it unethical for Attorney A to remain silent when he heard the prosecutor give erroneous information to the court?

 

Opinion #1:

 

No, it was not unethical for Attorney A to remain silent. The burden of proof was on the State to show that the defendant's driving record justified a more restrictive sentencing level. A defense lawyer is not required to volunteer adverse facts when the prosecutor fails to bring them forward. The duty of confidentiality to the client is paramount provided the defense lawyer does not affirmatively misrepresent the facts to the court. See Rule 1.6(c) and Rule 3.3(a)(1) of the Revised Rules of Professional Conduct; CPR 313 (lawyer may not volunteer to the court confidential information about a client's prior convictions); and RPC 33 (lawyer may not reveal confidential information about a client's prior criminal record to the court but may not misrepresent the client's criminal record). Although Rule 3.3(a)(2) prohibits a lawyer from failing to disclose a material fact to a tribunal "when disclosure is necessary to avoid assisting a criminal or fraudulent act by the client," this rule was not violated because Client's driving record was inaccurate through no fault of Client and Client did not criminally or fraudulently conceal the prior conviction from the prosecutor or the court.

 

Inquiry #2:

 

Client wants a limited driving privilege. To obtain the privilege, Client must petition the court by filing a form prepared by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). To be eligible for a limited driving privilege under G.S. §20-179.3, the court must find that the defendant, within the preceding seven years, was not convicted of an offense involving impaired driving. Although the AOC form does not require the defendant to represent to the court that the defendant has no prior DWI convictions, the court must find, and so acknowledge on the form, that there is evidence that satisfies the statutory requirements for the issuance of a limited driving privilege.

 

Assuming that at no point in the process Attorney A or Client will be required to misrepresent Client's prior driving record to the court, may Attorney A petition the court for a limited driving privilege for Client?

 

Opinion #2:

 

No. Unlike the prior inquiry, in this situation the burden of showing eligibility for a limited driving privilege is on the defendant. By petitioning the court for the privilege, the defendant is making an implicit representation to the court that he has no prior convictions and is eligible for the privilege. Attorney A is aware that this is a false representation of a material fact and he may not participate in its presentation to a tribunal by filing the petition. Rule 3.3(a)(1).