Opinion 65-17
FLORIDA BAR ETHICS OPINION
OPINION 65-17
April 1, 1965
Advisory ethics opinions are not binding.
A county prosecuting attorney should not represent private clients in civil suits against the county or
any board or agency thereof, even though his official county duties relate only to criminal
prosecutions.
Caveat: Compare Opinion 67-52.
Canons:
Opinions:
6, 37
ABA 10, 16, 186, 262, 278
Chairman Smith stated the opinion of the committee:
In substance, a member of The Florida Bar inquires as to the ethical propriety of
an elected county prosecuting attorney representing private clients (1) in
condemnation proceedings in which the county and the state are parties-defendant
and (2) in personal injury actions against agencies, boards or commissions of the
county which are not represented by the prosecuting attorney.
It is the opinion of a majority of the Committee that an elected county prosecutor should not
represent private clients in civil litigation against the county, or agencies, boards or commissions
thereof even though the prosecutor is charged only with the duty of representing the county in
criminal matters and even though the county, and subdivisions thereof, employ other attorneys for
representation in civil matters. The majority also extends its view, as expressed, to cases in which
the prosecutor seeks to obtain enactment of a special relief bill on behalf of a private client who
seeks recovery from the county or a subdivision thereof. The majority bases its view upon the
provisions of Canons 6 and 37 and upon certain opinions of the Professional Ethics Committee of
the American Bar Association. Reference is made to Opinions 10, 16, 186, 262 and 278. In Opinion
186, the American Bar Association dealt with the “reverse side” of the problem now presented. The
question there was whether a county attorney, who represented the county only in civil matters,
could properly defend a person charged with crime in the county. The ABA Committee answered in
the negative. In so doing, it noted the distinction between civil and criminal matters and indicated
that, at first glance, there might be no conflict. The Committee concluded, however, that an attorney
representing the public should not accept employment where his duties to a private client and his
public duties might conflict either directly or indirectly. It was felt that such representation might
tend to destroy public confidence in the lawyer as a public official and might bring reproach upon
the profession.
Two members of this Committee believe there would be no impropriety in an elected county
prosecutor handling civil matters for a private client in which the county, or a subdivision thereof, is
the defendant. These members take special note of the fact that in small counties most attorneys
hold some public position and that if these attorneys are disqualified from representing private
clients in situations which are not in direct conflict with the public duties of the attorney, then the
clients may be required to seek representation outside of the county. Stress is laid upon the practical
considerations involved.