The duty in context
No improper communication with the court court
The lawyer must not communicate with the court on a matter of substance in the opponent's absence except where permitted, and must promptly disclose to the opponent any such communication.
How the codes express this duty
E&W Solicitors SRA Principles & Code no clear equivalent
E&W Barristers BSB Handbook no clear equivalent
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code 2026 no clear equivalent
AU Solicitors Solicitors' Conduct Rules Rules 22.5; 22.6 strong 99 cases
22.5 A solicitor must not, outside an ex parte application or a hearing of which an opponent has had proper notice, communicate in the opponent's absence with the court concerning any matter of substance in connection with current proceedings unless: ... 22.6 A solicitor must promptly tell the opponent what passes between the solicitor and a court in a communication referred to in Rule 22.5.
Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules · 2015 (June 2026 compilation) · archived copy · official source ↗
AU Barristers Uniform Barristers Rules rr53-54 strong 36 cases
A barrister must not, outside an ex parte application or a hearing of which an opponent has had proper notice, communicate in the opponent's absence with the court concerning any matter of substance in connection with current proceedings unless [permitted]. A barrister must promptly tell an opponent what passes between the barrister and a court in a communication referred to in Rule 53.
Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules · 2015 (as amended 14 May 2025) · archived copy · official source ↗
IE Solicitors Law Society Guide Ch5 — Communication with the court strong 82 cases
A solicitor should not discuss the merits of a case with the judge, registrar, clerk or other official before whom a case is pending. Where during the case a written communication to the court is required, the solicitor should deliver a copy of the communication to the opposing party.
Solicitor's Guide to Professional Conduct (Law Society of Ireland) · 4th ed. (2022) · archived copy · official source ↗
IE Barristers Bar Code of Conduct Rule 5.28; Rule 5.29 strong 82 cases
Barristers shall not approach a Judge to discuss with them any matter then pending or at hearing before that Judge without the consent of the Judge and their opposing lawyer or lay litigant being present during such approach.
Code of Conduct for the Bar of Ireland · 2024 · archived copy · official source ↗
JM Attorneys Canons of Professional Ethics Canon V(i) partial 26 cases
In any proceeding in a Court an Attorney shall not communicate or cause any other person to communicate with a juror as to the merits of such proceedings, and shall only do so with a Judge or person exercising Judicial functions:- (i) in the normal course of the proceedings, or (ii) where authorised by law, or the practice of the Courts or with the consent of the parties.
Legal Profession (Canons of Professional Ethics) Rules · 1978 (principal) · archived copy · official source ↗
JE Lawyers Law Society of Jersey Code G.3.4 partial
Members must not discuss the merits of a case with a member of the judiciary before whom a case is pending or by whom it may be heard unless invited to do so in the presence of the lawyer for the other side.
Law Society of Jersey Code of Conduct · 1 January 2017 · archived copy · official source ↗
ON Lawyers LSO Rules of Prof. Conduct r 5.1-2(d) partial
When acting as an advocate, a lawyer shall not ... endeavour or allow anyone else to endeavour, directly or indirectly, to influence the decision or action of a tribunal or any of its officials in any case or matter by any means other than open persuasion as an advocate
Law Society of Ontario — Rules of Professional Conduct · current · archived copy · official source ↗
BC Lawyers BC Code r 2.1-2(d) partial 15 cases
A lawyer should never seek privately to influence a court or tribunal, directly or indirectly, in the lawyer's or a client's favour, nor should the lawyer attempt to curry favour with juries by fawning, flattery or pretended solicitude for their personal comfort.
Code of Professional Conduct for British Columbia (BC Code) · 2017 · archived copy · official source ↗
NZ Lawyers Conduct & Client Care Rules r 13.2.2 strong
A lawyer must not discuss any case or matter before the court with any judicial officer involved in the proceeding either formally or informally outside of the rules of procedure ... In cases of doubt, the lawyers for other parties (or if a party is not represented, then the party concerned) should be informed of any matters being brought before the court.
Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008 · SR 2008/214 · archived copy · official source ↗
SCO Solicitors LSS Standards of Conduct no clear equivalent
SG Lawyers Professional Conduct Rules 2015 r 30 (Communication with court) partial 9 cases
30 Communication with court
Legal Profession (Professional Conduct) Rules 2015 · 2015 · archived copy · official source ↗
HK Solicitors Solicitors' Guide Principle 10.02 Commentary 2-3 strong
Except in the course of an application to the court, a solicitor must not discuss the merits of the case with a judge, magistrate or other adjudicator before whom a case is pending ... unless invited to do so in the presence of the solicitor or barrister for the other side ... a solicitor shall at the same time deliver a copy of it to his professional adversary.
Hong Kong Solicitors' Guide to Professional Conduct (Volume 1) · current · archived copy · official source ↗
HK Barristers Bar Code of Conduct para 10.48 strong
A practising barrister must not, outside of an ex parte application or a hearing of which an opponent has had proper notice, communicate in the opponent's absence with the Court concerning any matter of substance in connection with current proceedings unless ... A practising barrister must promptly inform an opponent of what has passed between the barrister and the Court in a communication referred to in sub-paragraph (a) hereof.
Code of Conduct of the Bar of the Hong Kong SAR · 2018 · archived copy · official source ↗
Cases dealing with this duty
26 decisions · link basis: found breached = a tribunal finding; rule cited = the mapped provision is cited in the decision; text match = high-precision text pattern
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Sean Garvin Moses Osbourne
Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered November 03, 2023. | Struck off, Restitution ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered January 26, 2024. | Formal Order View PDF DE…
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Sean Garvin Moses Osbourne
Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered November 03, 2023. | Struck off, Restitution ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered January 26, 2024. | Formal Order View PDF AM…
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Calvin Benjamin Rose
Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered July 30, 2022. || Suspended, Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered January 04, 2023. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMIT…
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Seymour George Stewart
Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered November 03, 2021. || Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered July 26, 2021. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE…
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Lauren Marie Boyd
Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered April 29, 2021. || Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered July 16, 2021. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GE…
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Leroy Kajo Equiano
Fined | Guilty | Disciplinary Committee decisions delivered May 16, 2019. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 28/2016 IN THE MATTER OF BERCHELL MELBOURNE and LEROY …
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Jerome Alexander Dixon
Struck off | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered October 27, 2018. || RESULT: Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered October 01, 2018. View PDF of Decision View PDF of Formal…
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Jennifer Messado
Struck off | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered October 08, 2018 - Sanction Hearing. || Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered September 15, 2018. View PDF DECISION OF THE D…
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Howard A. Lettman
Struck off | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered February 05, 2018. || Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered June 24, 2017. View PDF HAZEL HANSON vs HOWARD LETTMAN SANCTIONS…
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Arlean D. Moreta Beckford
Struck Off, Restitution ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered September 01, 2015. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 104/2014 IN THE MATTER OF LORETT…
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Leighton O. Miller
Suspended, Restitution Ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered March 22, 2014. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 5/2010 BETWEEN RICARDO BOND COMPLAINA…
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Marie Judy-Ann Chambers
Fined, Conditional Suspension | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered April 28, 2012. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCILCOMPLAINT No. 54/2010 BETWEEN SUSAN WYNTER COMPLAINAN…
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Jermaine Ryan Simms
Struck off | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered September 17, 2011. View PDF FORMAL ORDER OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL MADE ON COMPLAINT NO 113 OF 2009 IN THE MATTER OF MICHAEL GILL …
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Howard A. Lettman
unavailable | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered September 28, 2010. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL Complaint #45/2008 IN THE MATTER of the Complaint by SHEILA BALFOU…
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Carlton H. Campbell
Compensation | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered March 28, 2010. View PDF IN THE MATTER of MILLICENT FORREST v CARLTON CAMPBELL, an Attorney-at-Law AND IN THE MATTER of the Legal Profession Act. Complaint No. 23…
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Sean O’Neil Kinghorn
Dismissed, Costs | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered September 26, 2009. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCILCOMPLAINT No. 117 of 2007 BETWEEN EARL BIGGS COMPLAINANT AND S…
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Beriston Bryan
Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered May 17, 2008. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT No. 44/2006 IN THE MATTER of the complaint by Carl Leadbeater agains…
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Arlean D. Moreta Beckford
Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered January 29, 2005. View PDF FORMAL ORDER OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL MADE ON COMPLAINT NO. 146/2002 IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPLAINT BY WILBE…
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Winston L. Walters
Struck off, Repayment Ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered October 28, 2003. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO. 118/2002 BETWEEN NICOLE SHULMAN COMP…
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Gresford Jones
Restitution ordered, Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered January 30, 2002. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO. 79/96 BETWEEN OWEN FERRON COMPLAINANT A…
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Adrian A.F. “Freddie” Brown
Suspended | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered August 10, 2001. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCILCOMPLAINT No. 123/97 GUY AND LOIS HIBBERT COMPLAINANT AND FREDDIE BROWN …
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Shaun A. Reynolds
Suspended, Investigation ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered July 27, 2001. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCILCOMPLAINT No. 75/1999 BETWEEN YANN MARTINET COMPLAI…
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Leeland T. Playfair
Struck off, Repayment Ordered, Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered June 23, 2001. View PDF FORMAL ORDER OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEEOF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL MADE ON COMPLAINTNO. 77 OF 99 IN THE MATTER…
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Shaun A. Reynolds
Suspended provisionally | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered May 12, 2001. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCILCOMPLAINT NO. 84/2000 GLADSTONE & ANN-MARIE WHITE COMPLAINANT…
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Kevin Martin
Struck off, Repayment ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered March 29, 2001. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT 108/99 JAMAICA NATIONAL BUILDING SOCIETY C…
Duty classification does not yet cover every jurisdiction (Ontario, New Zealand and Singapore decisions are indexed but not yet duty-classified), so counts here understate those corpora.