Headnote Explanation
The Standards of Conduct, Ethical Considerations (ECs) and Directory Rules (DRs) were superceded by the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct on January 1, 2001. The original sixty-seven (67) Standards of Conduct adopted by the Supreme Court of Georgia in 1979 can be found at 238 Ga. 213. Subsequently adopted Standards and Amendments can be found in copies of the Georgia Reports. The ECs and DRs can be found in the July 8, 1971 minutes of the Supreme Court of Georgia. The Standards, ECs and DRs also appear on the State Bar of Georgia's website at gabar.org.
Following the issuance of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct by the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Office of the General Counsel for the State Bar of Georgia requested that the Formal Advisory Opinion Board review each Opinion issued by the Supreme Court of Georgia to determine the impact, if any, the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct have on the Opinions.
For certain existing Formal Advisory Opinions that were issued by the Supreme Court of Georgia, it is the opinion of the Formal Advisory Opinion Board that the substance and conclusion reached under the Standards, ECs and/or DRs remains the same under the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. For those Opinions, a headnote has been added that references the Standards, ECs and/or DRs cited in the Opinion and the corresponding Georgia Rule(s) of Professional Conduct that now apply.
The use of the term "Rule(s)" in the headnotes, refers to the applicable Georgia Rule(s) of Professional Conduct.