These summaries were prepared by McGuireWoods LLP lawyer Thomas E. Spahn. They are based on the letter opinions issued by the Virginia State Bar. Any editorial comments reflect Mr. Spahn's current personal views, and not the opinions of the Virginia State Bar, McGuireWoods or its clients. 
 
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4-Witness-Advocate Rule

39-Miscellaneous

A lawyer may continue to represent a wife while also testifying for the prosecution against the former husband on a perjury charge, because the testimony would not be in the client's case. The "appearance of impropriety" language of Canon 9 relates only to the "limited contexts of judges, former government attorneys, and a lawyer's exertion of improper influence upon a tribunal, legislative body, or public official."

Copyright 2000, Thomas E. Spahn