Attorney-client priviledge rejected by judge

Attorney-client priviledge was called into question recently in the case of a nine year old girl who is now believed to be dead. U.S. District Judge Walter Rice said the attorney-client defense does not prevent prosecutors from forcing the lawyer to reveal what she may know about the girl, who hasn't been seen in six years. However before the lawyer can be forced to testify, the court must determine whether she has been given permission to disclose such information by the husband of her now-deceased client. "We are pleased that Judge Rice has ruled that the attorney's claims based on federal law have no merit," said Montgomery County Prosecutor Mathias Heck Jr. Attorneys for the lawyer, Beth Lewis, did not return calls seeking comment.