What action is prohibited by Ohio Rule 4.2?

Ohio Rule 4.2 specifically addresses the communication with a party who is represented by a lawyer regarding the subject of the representation. The rule prohibits a lawyer from communicating directly or indirectly with a represented party about the matter in question unless they have the consent of the party’s attorney or are authorized to do so by law.

This rule is designed to protect the integrity of the attorney-client relationship and to ensure that represented parties receive the protections their attorneys provide. The rationale is that allowing unmediated communication could undermine the crucial role of legal representation and may influence the represented party inappropriately, particularly in delicate legal matters.

While communicating with a witness without their attorney or discussing pending charges with clients may raise ethical considerations, these actions do not fall under the specific prohibitions outlined in Rule 4.2, making the selected answer the most relevant and accurate in the context of the question.