N.Y. Judiciary Law § 857: Judicial wellness or assistance committees

§ 857. Judicial wellness or assistance committees. 1. Confidential

information privileged. The confidential relations and communications

between a member or authorized agent of a judicial wellness or

assistance committee sponsored by a state or local bar association and

any person, firm or corporation communicating with such committee, its

members or authorized agents, shall be deemed to be privileged on the

same basis as those provided by law between attorney and client. Such

privilege may be waived only by the person, firm or corporation which

has furnished information to the committee. This privilege shall not

extend to information received by a judge or lawyer serving as a member

of a judicial wellness or assistance committee that a judge is

committing or is likely to commit a substantial violation of the rules

governing judicial conduct.

2. Immunity from liability. Any person, firm or corporation in good

faith providing information to, or in any other way participating in the

affairs of, any of the committees referred to in subdivision one of this

section shall be immune from civil liability that might otherwise result

by reason of such conduct. For the purpose of any proceeding, the good

faith of any such person, firm or corporation shall be presumed.