Opening lead out of turn... by dummy...

[Marcel]

Last night this was a novelty in our club..
A contract was reached, and before anybody could say or do anything, dummy leads a card.
What is your ruling:
- ask the next opponent whether the bid is accepted
or
- let the correct player lead, since dummy has no rights..

Marcel

[MIP]

I can't find a specific Law covering this. Maybe the framers of the Laws thought that no dummy could be that much of a dummy.

Dummy cannot make an opening lead. If dummy faces a card before the correct opening lead is made that card stays on the table and the correct defender then makes his opening lead in the normal way. The card is authorised information to the defence. A defender cannot choose to accept dummy's "opening lead."

[Ed Reppert]

Law 54E: If a player of the declaring side attempts to make an opening lead, Law 24 applies.

Law 24 deals with cards faced during the auction (which must be left face up on the table until the auction period ends). After the auction period ends, says this law,

if the offender becomes declarer or dummy, the cards are picked up and returned to the hand.

The auction period ends when, after the auction ends, either defender faces an opening lead (Law 22B).