Defense lawyer appreciation thread.

[redgreenandblue]

Here's to those who are willing to, dispassionately and in total disregard of public opinion, present the best possible defense of even the worst of accused criminals. They are the backbone of any free and open society.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Always remember, no matter how odious the defendant and the *alleged* act,

Last edited Fri Feb 16, 2018, 11:02 AM - Edit history (2)

the defense attorney is actually defending the American Constitution, especially due process, equal protection, search & seizure, evidence. Their goal is not to get their clients off on a "technicality". It is to protect your rights as well as his/her client.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. Correct. It's why we have courts and don't have lynch mobs. . . . . nt

[obamanut2012]

19. It reminded me of how Hillary was lambasted for being

An assigned defense attorney for a rapist when she was an attorney in AR.

Defense attorneys are the bedrock of due process.

[no_hypocrisy]

21. Exactly. It wasn't as though HRC wanted to put an *alleged* rapist back on the street.

And remember the Central Park Five were convicted, imprisoned, had their convictions overturned with new evidence, and were released for allegations of rape and violent assault. Without defense attorneys, they'd be rotting in jail -- or executed like our vainglorious president demanded.

[obamanut2012]

22. Yes, I always think of the Central Park Five in times like these

People also seem to not get attorneys hqve to vigorously advocate for their clients -- they literally HAVE to.

[PA Democrat]

2. Thanks for this. It was disheartening to read posts

basically advocating for kangaroo courts and vigilante justice. Constitutional rights can not be selectively applied.

[Fred Sanders]

3. Public defenders and legal aid lawyers...in the trenches for rule of law, not in corporate

towers and political offices trying to undermine the law.

[cilla4progress]

4. Yes, I have worked with and for many,

and continue in this field.

They are typically quite passionate about their work. Real heroes.

[malaise]

9. Well said

[Hermit-The-Prog]

10. and Innocence Project

https://www.innocenceproject.org/

https://25years.innocenceproject.org/

[onenote]

5. +1

[kag]

6. Right...

The ones who get off on "technicalities" are the ones whose lawyers DON'T do a good job defending them.

And no, I'm not being sarcastic. The quickest way to a mistrial or overturned verdict is to have a lazy or corrupt lawyer. The ones who represent their clients well are the heroes of our CJS.

[obamanut2012]

20. This

A good defense attorney is also a defense against mistrials and appeals on technicalities.

The shooter down here has an excellent PD. She is very well thought of by the DA's office.

[malaise]

7. Good post

Rec

[getagrip_already]

11. when he graduated from college...

My son considered getting a law degree and becoming a defense lawyer. He was talked out of it by several family members who were lawyers, and one of which was a pd.

I sort of died when that happened. If the system doesn't support bright and motivated students to enter the system, and actively deters them with the promise of grueling hours, no pay, and public persecution, what chance does democracy have?

Just about every public defenders office is understaffed and demoralized. Many just go through motion, some do even less.

It is saddening beyond belief, but in the end, I couldn't fault him for not pursuing it. He still talks about going to law school, but he has no passion for it at this point.

[Dustlawyer]

17. A couple of years ago Texas had provided money to expand Public Defender offices.

My county would finally have a Public Defender instead of criminal appointments to unskilled/inexperienced attorneys. My girlfriend had been hired as their investigator and they were waiting on the courthouse renovations for their offices to be ready.

Suddenly she was told they were backing out because the county chose to use their space to expand the DA's office instead. That is justice in America! (sarcasm)

[Hamlette]

23. I don't know any public defenders offices that meet your description.

They are prized and highly sought after jobs in my city. Granted, they are overworked but most attorneys feel the same, especially those working for big law firms. I worked as a public defender for many years and still have friends in that office and from around the US. All of the public defenders I know are hard working, motivated wonderful people.

Oh, and the public persecution? I never felt it. Even as a public defender I felt prestige. I have always felt people treat me with much more respect than I deserve just because I went to college longer.

The part of the system that failed your son was his family who talked him out of it. As a lawyer, married to a lawyer, whose only child is a lawyer, I can't imagine talking anyone out of it.

[gabeana]

24. Thanks for your insight

did you ever see the Documentary Murder on a Sunday morning, shines a light on the dedicated PD working their tales off defending Teenager on a murder charge.

[Hamlette]

31. I've not seen it, but I will. It's on Amazon. Thanks for the recommendation!

[getagrip_already]

25. thanks, I agree

But I have live with the family I have, not the family I want.

[Hamlette]

32. Fight it out.

that's what we do. Tell them to buzz off.

[SCantiGOP]

12. It is the cornerstone of our system

[irisblue]

13. Mine did me right.

[kcr]

14. It's a tough job and so important

I've been avoiding the comments during this tragedy because it's so raw and people are understandably lashing out. But you're absolutely right.

[bobbieinok]

15. Started reading PerryMason books in hischool. His comments re importance of his job convinced me

I don't remember the tv series emphasizing the importance of defence lawyers nearly as much.

Another thing I learned from the books. Do NOT talk to police in serious cases without your lawyer present.

And shut up when police tell you they just need you to explain 1 little thing.

Much of what I learned from the books has been reinforcedcby watching cops interogation of suspects in the tv series Law and Order. Famous last words 'If you haven't done anything wrong, what's the problem with talking to us?'

Note that E S Gardner also wrote a series about a DA who frequently battles a very crooked defense lawyer. And.. writing as A A Fair, he wrote a series about a private eye Donald Lam who works for Bertha Cool.

[Shrike47]

16. Thank you for the thread. I got a little heated yesterday about the attacks on lawyers.

The ones i’ve known, and been, were doing their best. The Constitution gives accused people rights. A criminal defendant is entitled to zealous representation. Thank goodness.

[obamanut2012]

18. k & r

[MadDAsHell]

26. I was a public defender for years. Thankless but important work.

My biggest challenges typically had nothing to do with the actual merits of the case. More along the lines of: will my client show up to his/her court date? Will they be sober? Will they say something or lie against my instructions?

Is NOT a job for the faint of heart.

[Sneederbunk]

27. Justice

"It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer" Blackstone

[ChoppinBroccoli]

28. As A Defense Attorney Who Also Does A Lot Of Court Appointed Work, I Appreciate The Recognition

RWers like to bend over backwards praising the military people who "protect our rights," but will never bother to acknowledge that it's the lawyers who are the ones fighting to protect our rights here at home. And I resent being called "slime" (as was the case in another thread) just for doing the job the Founding Fathers deemed so important that they dedicated an entire Constitutional Amendment to it. Much of my practice is doing court-appointed work for juveniles, as well as parents facing the possibility of losing their children, who are at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder. I get paid well below "market value" for my services so I can help people less fortunate. So if that makes me "slime," then I guess slime I'll be. How many noble doctors can say the same thing?

There are lots of good attorneys out there on both sides, and both prosecutors AND defense attorneys have a very important role in protecting the Constitution here at home. Every bit as important (and even more so, I'd say) as any military person deployed to a foreign country. Without the Constitution, there's no country left to fight FOR.

[Skittles]

30. I hear you

when a friend of mine was killed by someone who ran a stoplight, I actually caught up with the court-appointed defense attorneys in the parking lot to tell them how impressed I was with their work....that if I was ever in trouble I would definitely consider hiring them....they seemed very appreciative

[Skittles]

29. yup

this is America; everyone deserves a defense

[onethatcares]

33. I had a great one

many years ago, seems that time took it's toll and he committed suicide..