Cite as: 518 U. S. 1 (1996)
Scalia, J., dissenting
than common-law decision. It says that "the vast majority of States explicitly extend a testimonial privilege to licensed social workers." Ante, at 16-17. There are two elements of this impressive statistic, however, that the Court does not reveal.
First—and utterly conclusive of the irrelevance of this supposed consensus to the question before us—the majority of the States that accord a privilege to social workers do not do so as a subpart of a "psychotherapist" privilege. The privilege applies to all confidences imparted to social workers, and not just those provided in the course of psychotherapy.3 In Oklahoma, for example, the social-worker-privilege statute prohibits a licensed social worker from disclosing, or being compelled to disclose, "any information acquired from persons consulting the licensed social worker in his or her professional capacity" (with certain exceptions to be discussed infra, at 33). Okla. Stat., Tit. 59, § 1261.6 (1991) (emphasis added). The social worker's "professional capacity" is expansive, for the "[P]ractice of social work" in Oklahoma is defined as:
"[T]he professional activity of helping individuals, groups, or communities enhance or restore their capacity for physical, social and economic functioning and the
3 See Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 32-3283 (1992); Ark. Code Ann. § 17-46-107 (1995); Del. Code Ann., Tit. 24, § 3913 (1987); Idaho Code § 54-3213 (1994); Ind. Code § 25-23.6-6-1 (1993); Iowa Code §§ 154C.5 and 622.10 (1987); Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-6315 (Supp. 1990); Me. Rev. Stat. Ann., Tit. 32, § 7005 (1988); Mass. Gen. Laws § 112:135A (1994); Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 339.1610 (West 1992); Miss. Code Ann. § 73-53-29 (1995); Mo. Rev. Stat. § 337.636 (1994); Mont. Code Ann. § 37-22-401 (1995); Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-1,335 (Supp. 1994); N. J. Stat. Ann. § 45:15BB-13 (West 1995); N. M. Stat. Ann. § 61-31-24 (1993); N. Y. Civ. Prac. Law § 4508 (McKinney 1992); N. C. Gen. Stat. § 8-53.7 (1986); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2317.02(G)(1) (1995); Okla. Stat., Tit. 59, § 1261.6 (1991); Ore. Rev. Stat. § 40.250 (1991); S. D. Codified Laws § 36-26-30 (1994); Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-23-107 (1990); Wash. Rev. Code § 18.19.180 (1994); W. Va. Code § 30-30-12 (1993); Wyo. Stat. § 33-38-109 (Supp. 1995).
31
Page: Index Previous 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 NextLast modified: October 4, 2007