Are communications with lawyers the only types of communication protected as confidential?
No. Communications between other persons with special relationships also are accorded confidentiality protections, or “privileged” status. All of these reflect a societal view that it is more important to foster full and frank communication between people with specific relationships than it is to allow others to break the protection of confidentiality that such privileges provide. Among other privileged communications are priest-penitent communications, between clergy and those whom they counsel; doctor-patient communications, allowing people with physical or mental illness to consult physicians in confidence; and, under certain circumstances, spousal communications, which can protect from forced disclosure confidential conversations between married couples. Why does the ABA have a Task Force on the Attorney Client Privilege? The ABA Task Force on the Attorney Client Privilege was created in October 2004 in response to what was perceived as a growing trend to encourage or coerce corpor
