Ethics for government lawyers 101

[Hamlette]

I've worked as a government (state level) lawyer for many years. As a lawyer you have responsibilities to your "boss" (agency head or governor), to your profession (if you want to keep your license) and to the public who pays your salary. What do you do when there is a conflict between two or all of those entities?

The answer is simple and well known by anyone who knows the role of a government lawyer: First you must uphold your responsibility to "the courts" (your oath as a lawyer) and not do anything that is against your professions ehtical code. Second, and this is what Bush and Gonzalez (to say nothing of Regent University graduates it seems) do not seem to understand, your client is the public. Not the governor. Not the agency head. The public. You are charged with the responsibility of doing what is right for the public.