LEO: Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney, LE Op. 1020

 

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney — Representing Civil Cases.

January 21, 1988

 

You advise that you have been elected to the position of Commonwealth's attorney in your area effective January 1, 1988. You wish to hire a lawyer with trial practice as your assistant Commonwealth's attorney. This attorney will experience a financial loss should he accept your offer of employment. You wish to know whether or not it is possible for the part-time assistant Commonwealth's attorney to engage in personal-injury litigation when there has been a collateral criminal prosecution in the jurisdiction. You have attached certain safeguards which you plan to implement in your office. You wish to know whether or not the part-time assistant Commonwealth's attorney would be able to engage in personal-injury litigation when there has been a collateral criminal investigation in the jurisdiction once these safeguards are implemented.

 

LE Op. 594 states that “it is not improper for a part-time Commonwealth's attorney or assistant Commonwealth's attorney to handle civil domestic relations cases so long as the adversary party is not then the subject of criminal proceedings”.

 

LE Op. 696 states in pertinent part that “it is improper for a part-time assistant Commonwealth's attorney to continue representation of a party in a previously pending civil matter after a criminal charge is brought against either party to the civil proceeding although the part-time assistant Commonwealth's attorney avoids involvement in said criminal prosecution” (emphasis added).

 

The above-cited Legal Ethics Opinions, especially LE Op. 696, are inconsistent with paragraphs A, B and C of your proposal.

 

Disciplinary Rule 5-105 prohibits a lawyer from employment involving actual or potential conflicting professional responsibilities. Under DR:5-105(E), partners and associates of the disqualified party are also disqualified. The Committee disagrees with the submitted analysis concerning these code provisions. The Committee does not believe that an artificial wall can be erected within the office of the Commonwealth's attorney by providing for separate telephone lines and separate offices.

 

Committee Opinion January 21, 1988

CROSS REFERENCES

See also LE Op. 1208.