Reporter's Explanation of Changes
TEXT:
1. Add reference to "law and fact"
This change makes explicit the requirement that a claim must have a nonfrivolous basis in both law and fact. See also Comment [2]. No change in substance is intended.
COMMENT:
[2] A new sentence has been added to remind lawyers that they must act reasonably to inform themselves about the facts and law pertinent to a claim they will make on behalf of a client. The reference to a client's purpose to harass has been dropped because the client's purpose is not relevant to the objective merits of the client's claim.
[3] This new Comment acknowledges the primacy of constitutional law that might require a lawyer to take action on behalf of a criminal defendant that otherwise would violate this Rule.
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