Jones v. United States of America, No. 5:2013cv05008 - Document 14 (D.S.D. 2013)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER re: Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver, granting 12 Motion. Signed by US Magistrate Judge John E. Simko on 4/2/13. (Attachments: # 1 Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver) (SLW)
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FILED UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT APR 02 2013 DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA ~~ WESTERN DIVISION *********** **************************************** * CIY 13-5008 RONALD JOSEPH JONES, * * Movant, * MEMORANDUM OPINION AND * vs. ORDER RE: ATTORNEY-CLIENT * PRIVILEGE WAIVER * UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, * * Respondent. * * ************ *************************************** The Government has requested an Order Directing Fonner Defense Counsel to Respond to Defendant's Claims of Ineffective Assistance set forth in the Movant's Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. The Eighth Circuit Court ofAppeals has recognized that the attorney-client privilege may be impliedly waived when a client attacks his attorney's competence and raises the issue of ineffectiveness or incompetence of counsel. See Tasby v. United States, 504 F.2d 332 (8th Cir. 1974). ABA Model Rule of Professional Conduct 1.6 also recognizes that a disclosure may be impliedly authorized under certain circumstances including when a lawyer must respond to allegations in any proceeding concerning the lawyer's representation of his or her client. The American Bar Association, however, has issued an opinion advising that fonner counsel confronted with a client making ineffective assistance ofcounsel claims, consistent with their ethical obligations (1) may not disclose infonnation imparted to him or her in confidence without first obtaining the infonned consent ofthe fonner client; and (2) may only disclose such infonnation in "court-supervised testimony." ABA Comm. on Eth. and Profl Responsibility, Fonnal Op. 10-456 (July 14, 2010). In consideration ofthe allegations set forth in Movant's Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 this Court has detennined that the Government cannot respond to the allegations ofineffective assistance --- --._-------- of counsel without Attorney Ellery Grey responding by affidavit to the specific allegations in the Motion concerning his representation of Movant. If Movant opposes the waiver of the Attorney Client privilege as it relates to the specific allegations in his Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, those allegations will be stricken from Movant's Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED: 1. The Respondent's Motion (Doc. 12) directing former defense counsel to respond and for extension is granted as follows: A. That the Clerk shall send this Order and the attached Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver form to Movant; B. That ifthe Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver form is not signed and returned to the Clerk for filing within 21 days, the allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel will be stricken from Movant's Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255; C. That if the Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver form is signed and filed, the Government shall forward a copy of the signed Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver form to Attorney Ellery Grey, along with a copy of this Order and Movant's § 2255 Motion. Attorney Ellery Grey shall within 14 days of receiving the Attorney-Client Privilege Waiver form provide and file with the Clerk an affidavit responding to the specific allegations in the § 2255 Motion concerning his representation of Movant. D. The United States shall file its response within 14 days after receiving Mr. Grey's affidavit. Dated this.;L day of April, 2013. BY THE COURT: States Magistrate Judge
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