(Guest opinion) Ralph Josephsohn: To trust or not to trust, that is the question

In assessing the gravity of wrongdoing, the betrayal of a trust ranks high on the totem pole of mischief. A trust relationship entails disclosure of confidences to another in reliance of wise counsel, integrity and expertise. It must not be focused on the trustee’s self-interest. Statutory privileges ensuring confidentiality include: attorney-client, accountant-client, physician-patient, psychotherapist-patient, clergy-penitent, school counselor-student, spousal, counselor-victim (domestic violence/sexual assault), news reporter’s privilege, and public officer’s privilege (officials may withhold confidential communications where the public interest would suffer by disclosure). In a democracy, the confidence assumed in trust by public officials is indispensable. The integrity of a public tr