34
Scalia, J., dissenting
employed social worker like Karen Beyer loses the privilege where her supervisor determines that her testimony "is necessary in the performance of the duty of the social worker as a public employee." See Ore. Rev. Stat. § 40.250(5) (1991). In South Carolina, a social worker is forced to disclose confidences "when required by statutory law or by court order for good cause shown to the extent that the patient's care and treatment or the nature and extent of his mental illness or emotional condition are reasonably at issue in a proceeding." See S. C. Code Ann. § 19-11-95(D)(1) (Supp. 1995). The majority of social-worker-privilege States declare the privilege inapplicable to information relating to child abuse.5 And the States that do not fall into any of the above categories provide exceptions for commitment proceedings, for proceedings in which the patient relies on his mental or emotional condition as an element of his claim or defense, or for communications made in the course of a court-ordered examination of the mental or emotional condition of the patient.6
5 See, e. g., Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 32-3283 (1992); Ark. Code Ann. § 17- 46-107(3) (1995); Cal. Evid. Code Ann. § 1027 (West 1995); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-3-304 (Supp. 1995); Del. Rule Evid. 503(d)(4); Ga. Code Ann. § 19-7- 5(c)(1)(G) (1991); Idaho Code § 54-3213(3) (1994); La. Code Evid. Ann., Art. 510(B)(2)(k) (West 1995); Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code Ann. § 9-121(e)(4) (1995); Mass. Gen. Laws § 119:51A (1994); Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 722.623 (West 1992 Supp. Pamph.); Minn. Stat. § 595.02.2(a) (1988); Miss. Code Ann. § 73-53-29(e) (1995); Mont. Code Ann. § 37-22-401(3) (1995); Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-711 (1995); N. M. Stat. Ann. § 61-31-24(C) (Supp. 1995); N. Y. Civ. Prac. Law § 4508(a)(3) (McKinney 1992); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2317.02(G)(1)(a) (1995); Ore. Rev. Stat. § 40.250(4) (1991); R. I. Gen. Laws § 5-37.3-4(b)(4) (1995); S. D. Codified Laws § 36-26-30(3) (1994); Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-23-107(b) (1990); Vt. Rule Evid. 503(d)(5); W. Va. Code § 30-30-12(a)(4) (1993); Wyo. Stat. § 14-3-205 (1994).
6 See, e. g., Fla. Stat. § 90.503(4) (Supp. 1992) (all three exceptions); Ky. Rule Evid. 507(c) (all three); Nev. Rev. Stat. § 49.245 (1993) (all three); Utah Rule Evid. 506(d) (all three); Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-146q(c)(1) (1995) (commitment proceedings and proceedings in which patient's mental condition at issue); Iowa Code § 622.10 (1987) (proceedings in which patient's mental condition at issue).
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