Reply #27: I am a Public Defender [View All]

[oddtext]

Of course. The guilty need representation. Be mindful that we live in country gone mad. Even if the Defendant is guilty, the defendant deserves a fair, proportional sentence, an opportunity to be heard regarding mitigating factors regarding the guilty deed and all other constitutional protections defendant's a guaranteed by the CONSTITUTION. Sometimes I look at things that way -- I'm defending the Constitution. We don't just take people the courthouse basement and put a bullet in their head upon the jury's verdict/defendant's plea. There's more to it.

Now, someone posted that they just couldn't represent someone that they KNOW to be guilty and they would counsel a plea bargain. Sure, that's what happens all the time. Sometimes the charge isn't appropriate and the Defendant is guilty of something, so a plea is negotiated.

I do want to say that we lawyers cannot take a case to trial knowing that the Defendant is guilty where the Defendant wishes to present a case contrary to fact, or that is fraudulent. That is a conflict of interest and is clearly unethical.

If that's what this poll drives at I switch my vote to NO. However, I take it more generally, and YES DEFENDANTS NEED REPRESENTATION and THE CONSTITUTION MUST BE DEFENDED!