The A.B.A. stays on its traditional course
Like many another professional organization, the American Bar Association has a popular image of being more concerned about serving its membership than the public interest. At its 105th annual meeting last week in Atlanta, the A.B.A. did little to dispel that perception. Its principal act was to adopt a new code of ethics that, among other things, generally bars attorneys from disclosing prospective criminal conduct by their clients unless it is "likely to result in imminent death or substantial bodily harm."
The new code, which will serve as a model for states, has been in...