16-18-18. Attorney's duty to respect client's confidence.

It is the duty of an attorney and counselor at law to maintain inviolate the confidence, and at any peril to himself to preserve the secret of his client.

Source: PolC 1877, ch 18, § 4, subdiv 4; CL 1887, § 465, subdiv 4; RPolC 1903, § 697, subdiv 4; RC 1919, § 5262 (4); Supreme Court Rule 13, 1939; SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 32.1201 (4).