Rule 3.7. Lawyer as Witness

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Colorado Court Rules
Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct

Advocate

As amended through Rule Change 2018(6), effective April 12, 2018

Rule 3.7. Lawyer as Witness

(a) A lawyer shall not act as advocate at a trial in which the lawyer is likely to be a necessary
witness unless:

(1) the testimony relates to an uncontested issue;
(2) the testimony relates to the nature and value of legal services rendered in the case; or
(3) disqualification of the lawyer would work substantial hardship on the client.

(b) A lawyer may act as advocate in a trial in which another lawyer in the lawyer's firm is likely to be called as a witness unless precluded from doing so by Rule 1.7 or Rule 1.9.

Cite as RPC 3.7
History. Entire Appendix repealed and readopted April 12, 2007, effective January 1, 2008.

Note:
COMMENT

[1] Combining the roles of advocate and witness can prejudice the tribunal and the opposing party and can also
involve a conflict of interest between the lawyer and client. Advocate-Witness Rule

[2] The tribunal has proper objection when the trier of fact may be confused or misled by a lawyer serving as both
advocate and witness. The opposing party has proper objection where the combination of roles may prejudice that
party's rights in the litigation. A witness is required to testify on the basis of personal knowledge, while an advocate is
expected to explain and comment on evidence given by others. It may not be clear whether a statement by an
advocate-witness should be taken as proof or as an analysis of the proof.

[3] To protect the tribunal, paragraph (a) prohibits a lawyer from simultaneously serving as advocate and necessary
witness except in those circumstances specified in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3). Paragraph (a)(1) recognizes that
if the testimony will be uncontested, the ambiguities in the dual role are purely theoretical. Paragraph (a)(2) recognizes
that where the testimony concerns the extent and value of legal services rendered in the action in which the testimony
is offered, permitting the lawyers to testify avoids the need for a second trial with new counsel to resolve that issue.
Moreover, in such a situation the judge has firsthand knowledge of the matter in issue; hence, there is less
dependence on the adversary process to test the credibility of the testimony.

[4] Apart from these two exceptions, paragraph (a)(3) recognizes that a balancing is required between the interests of
the client and those of the tribunal and the opposing party. Whether the tribunal is likely to be misled or the opposing
party is likely to suffer prejudice depends on the nature of the case, the importance and probable tenor of the lawyer's
testimony, and the probability that the lawyer's testimony will conflict with that of other witnesses. Even if there is risk
of such prejudice, in determining whether the lawyer should be disqualified, due regard must be given to the effect of
disqualification on the lawyer's client. It is relevant that one or both parties could reasonably foresee that the lawyer
would probably be a witness. The conflict of interest principles stated in Rules 1.7, 1.9 and 1.10 have no application to
this aspect of the problem.

[5] Because the tribunal is not likely to be misled when a lawyer acts as advocate in a trial in which another lawyer in
the lawyer's firm will testify as a necessary witness, paragraph (b) permits the lawyer to do so except in situations
involving a conflict of interest. Conflict of Interest

[6] In determining if it is permissible to act as advocate in a trial in which the lawyer will be a necessary witness, the
lawyer must also consider that the dual role may give rise to a conflict of interest that will require compliance with
Rules 1.7 or 1.9. For example, if there is likely to be substantial conflict between the testimony of the client and that of
the lawyer the representation involves a conflict of interest that requires compliance with Rule 1.7. This would be true
even though the lawyer might not be prohibited by paragraph (a) from simultaneously serving as advocate and
witness because the lawyer's disqualification would work a substantial hardship on the client. Similarly, a lawyer who
might be permitted to simultaneously serve as an advocate and a witness by paragraph (a)(3) might be precluded
from doing so by Rule 1.9. The problem can arise whether the lawyer is called as a witness on behalf of the client or is
called by the opposing party. Determining whether or not such a conflict exists is primarily the responsibility of the
lawyer involved. If there is a conflict of interest, the lawyer must secure the client's informed consent, confirmed in
writing. In some cases, the lawyer will be precluded from seeking the client's consent. See Rule 1.7. See Rule 1.0(b)
for the definition of "confirmed in writing" and Rule 1.0(e) for the definition of "informed consent."

[7] Paragraph (b) provides that a lawyer is not disqualified from serving as an advocate because a lawyer with whom
the lawyer is associated in a firm is precluded from doing so by paragraph (a). If, however, the testifying lawyer would
also be disqualified by Rule 1.7 or Rule 1.9 from representing the client in the matter, other lawyers in the firm will be
precluded from representing the client by Rule 1.10 unless the client gives informed consent under the conditions
stated in Rule 1.7.