ABA Model Rules Biblical Worldview Assignment
JURI-580: Ethics & Professional Responsibility
Cody Voye
Professor Daniel Lacy
September 30, 2025
Analysis of Model Rules 1.6 and 3.3 Through a Biblical Worldview
The Model Rules of Professional Conduct established by the American Bar Association
serve as the ethical foundation for the practice of law. I chose Rule 1.6 (Confidentiality of
Information) and Rule 3.3 (Candor Toward the Tribunal) due to their particular importance.
These two rules are especially relevant as they present a basic tension in legal ethics – the
ethical duty to keep a client’s specific confidences from being disclosed and the ethical duty to
uphold truth and integrity in a legal proceeding. Viewing these two rules through the lens of
Scripture provides moral and ethical justification for both confidentiality and truth-telling while
simultaneously demonstrating the difficulty in balancing obligations to both duties in view of
God’s Word.
Rule 1.6: Confidentiality of Information
“Rule 1.6 generally prohibits a lawyer from revealing any information relating to the
representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent, the disclosure is impliedly
authorized, or an exception applies.”1 This rule is based on the principle of trust: clients are
entitled to trust that what they tell their lawyer won’t be revealed in any way, encouraging
clients to be open. The ethical basis for this rule is the matter-of-fact acknowledgement that the
relationship between lawyer and client can only be based on candor, and candor cannot be
effective without confidentiality. Trust and loyalty are moral bases of Rule 1.6, which are moral
checks and balances, not just a professional ones.
Confidentiality has a Biblical basis. The Bible says, “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he
that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.”2 The Bible is clear on the principle of
confidentiality and to not betray someone’s confidence - it is also wrong to gossip. Just as a
lawyer has an obligation to respect and protect the secrets of clients, the purpose is not for
selfserving interests, but for the integrity of the relationship. The Bible also says “Thou shalt not
bear false witness against thy neighbour,”3 to pose a caricature of truth requires some public or
unauthorized personal disclosure that is an injury to another’s personal relationship. Rule 1.6 is
representative of a Biblical value of honoring the neighbor by protecting their dignity and
personal information. Thus, confidentiality is a spiritual discipline of being faithful and trustful
to oneself and others, as well as a professional obligation.
Rule 3.3: Candor Toward the Tribunal
Conversely, “Rule 3.3 requires that a lawyer may not knowingly make false statements to
a tribunal, not correct false statements, or present false evidence.”4 The policy rationale is
simple: the justice system relies on truthful centeredness. Courts cannot achieve justice without
candor, and the adversarial system devolves into manipulation and deception. This rule enjoys
an ethical basis in virtue of the lawyer’s role as officer of the court. While it remains important
for a lawyer to be loyal to the client, loyalty to the truth and to the administration of justice are
more important when lawyer appears before a tribunal. This rule finds support in Scripture. The
Bible teaches, “Speak ye every man truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and
peace in your gates.”5 Ephesians says the same thing in a slightly different way—“putting away
lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour.”6 Both biblical verses express core elements of
the lawyer’s obligation to uphold Rule 3.3—truth is not negotiable, it is part God’s identity—“in
which it was impossible for God to lie.”7 A Biblical worldview affirms candor as a both a moral
and spiritual obligation and believes that deception undermines justice and dishonors God.
Balancing Confidentiality and Candor
The relationship between Rules 1.6 and 3.3 embodies the moral dilemma of
confidentiality versus honesty. By way of example, if the client’s plan is to testify falsely, the
lawyer is faced with a competing obligation of maintaining confidences (Rule 1.6) and being
honest with the tribunal (Rule 3.3). The bible speaks to this dilemma, as Proverbs encourages
loyalty when you keep a secret, but also God’s Word unequivocally instructs us to be honest.
Therefore, confidentiality is not “absolute” when the attorney being subtle would aid in
untruthfulness. The general Biblical principle is that truth prevails over secrecy when secrecy
results in injustice. Accordingly, the exceptions to confidentiality of Rule 1.6 where fraud or
crime will happen mirrors the biblical hierarchy as well.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Rules 1.6 and 3.3 were chosen because they showcase the lawyer being an
advocate and an officer of the court, and illustrates duties of confidentiality competing against
duties of truthfulness. The ethical principles of trust and candor that are the underpinning of
these duties are based in Scripture. The Bible speaks well of confidentiality, as being faithful,
but it must be balanced with the need for truth in the carrying out of justice. When a lawyer
views these professional duties, with a Biblical worldview, they can view their ethical duties as
more than just a professional duty or obligation, but as an ethical duty based on God’s Word.
1Model Rules of Prof’l Conduct R. 1.6(b) (2025).
2Proverbs 11:13 (King James).
3Exodus 20:16 (King James).
4Model Rules of Prof’l Conduct R. 3.3 (2025).
5Zechariah 8:16 (King James).
6Ephesians 4:25 (King James).
7Hebrews 6:18 (King James).
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