RPC 220

Use of Tape Recording Made by Someone Other Than the Lawyer's Client

Opinion rules that a lawyer should seek the court's permission to listen to a tape recording of a telephone conversation of his or her client made by a third party if listening to the tape recording would otherwise be a violation of the law.

Inquiry #1:

Client X was indicted on two counts of taking indecent liberties with a 14 year old boy. The boy's parents secretly tape recorded telephone conversations between the boy and Client X. Attorney A, who represents Client X, obtained discovery from the district attorney from which he learned of the existence of the tape and demanded copies. RPC 192 rules that a lawyer may not listen to an illegal tape recording made by his or her client nor may the lawyer use the information on the illegal tape recording to advance the client's case. Does the ethical responsibility of a lawyer change if a tape recording, which contains information relevant to the defense of the client, was made by someone other than the lawyer's client?

Opinion #1:

Under Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, 18 U.S.C. §2510 et seq. (the "Act"), it is illegal to intentionally intercept any telephone conversation without the consent of one of the parties to the conversation. However, whether it is illegal for Client X or Attorney A to listen to or use information contained in a tape recording of Client X made under the circumstances described in the inquiry is a question of statutory interpretation which cannot be answered by the Ethics Committee. See generally 18 U.S.C. §2511(1)(d) and (2)(d). If listening to or using the information from the tape recording under these circumstances is not a violation of the Act, Attorney A may listen to the tape recording and may use the information obtained from the tape recording in trial. If Attorney A is unsure of the legality of listening to the tape recording and he believes that it is in the best interest of his client's defense to do so, he should take the appropriate procedural steps to obtain the court's determination regarding the issue. See Rule 7.1(a)(1) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. 

This situation is distinguishable from RPC 192. RPC 192 prohibits a lawyer from listening to and using the information from a clearly illegal tape recording of a conversation of the opposing party made by a client because a lawyer should not enable a client to benefit from illegal conduct. Attorney A's client, on the other hand, is not seeking to benefit from her own illegal activity. Provided it is not a violation of the Act, listening to and using the contents of the tape recording to represent Client X is not prejudicial to the administration of justice. See Rule 1.2(d).

Inquiry #2:

If the district attorney advises Attorney A that the district attorney intends to offer the tape in evidence, does Attorney A have an obligation to listen to the tape recording in order to be prepared to address its contents in the trial?

Opinion #2:

Whether Attorney A may listen to the tape recording is a question of law which cannot be answered by the Ethics Committee. See opinion #1 above. However, if listening to the tape recording is illegal or Attorney A is unsure of the legality of listening to the tape recording, he should take the appropriate steps to seek the court's permission to listen to the tape recording in order to prepare for motions regarding the admissibility of the tape recording. See Rule 7.1(a)(1).

Inquiry #3:

In the fact situation set forth in RPC 192, the client made a tape recording of a conversation to which he was not a party. In this situation, may the lawyer file a motion to test the admissibility of the tape recording and, if the court determines that the tape is admissible, listen to the tape and use the information obtained on the tape and the tape itself at trial?

Opinion #3: 

Yes. See opinions #2 above.