Case Citation
Legal Case Name

In Re: GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION United States of America, Movant-Appellee, v. John Doe, Interested-Party-Appellant Case Brief

Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit2005Docket #729616
399 F.3d 527 66 Fed. R. Serv. 652 2005 U.S. App. LEXIS 3019

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
3 min read

tl;dr: A federal court held that the attorney-client privilege protects confidential communications between a state governor and his government lawyer from being disclosed to a federal grand jury investigating the governor for public corruption, refusing to create a special exception for criminal investigations.

Legal Significance: This case establishes in the Second Circuit that the governmental attorney-client privilege is absolute, not subject to a balancing test against a grand jury’s need for evidence. This holding created a circuit split on the strength of the privilege for government entities.

In Re: GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION United States of America, Movant-Appellee, v. John Doe, Interested-Party-Appellant Law School Study Guide

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

A federal grand jury investigating Connecticut Governor John Rowland for public corruption subpoenaed Anne C. George, the former chief legal counsel to the Office of the Governor. The investigation concerned whether Rowland and his staff had received improper gifts in exchange for state contracts. In her grand jury appearance, George confirmed she had numerous confidential conversations with the Governor and his staff for the purpose of providing legal advice on state ethics laws and the receipt of gifts. On behalf of the Governor’s Office, which declined to waive the privilege, George asserted the attorney-client privilege and refused to disclose the content of these communications. The government moved to compel her testimony. The district court granted the motion, holding that any governmental attorney-client privilege must yield to a federal grand jury’s fact-finding function because a government lawyer’s ultimate duty is to the public. After Rowland resigned, his successor also declined to waive the privilege. The Governor’s Office appealed the district court’s order.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Does the common-law attorney-client privilege, as applied to government attorneys and officials under Federal Rule of Evidence 501, protect confidential communications from disclosure to a federal grand jury conducting a criminal investigation?

Yes. The court reversed the district court’s order compelling testimony. The traditional Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea

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Legal Issue

Does the common-law attorney-client privilege, as applied to government attorneys and officials under Federal Rule of Evidence 501, protect confidential communications from disclosure to a federal grand jury conducting a criminal investigation?

Conclusion

This decision solidifies the strength of the governmental attorney-client privilege in the Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercit

Legal Rule

The attorney-client privilege extends to communications between government officials and government attorneys Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in volu

Legal Analysis

The court, interpreting federal common law under Federal Rule of Evidence 501, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • The Second Circuit recognizes a strong governmental attorney-client privilege. - The
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugia

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