Could you be a defence lawyer?

[Khalekan]

Just seeing that Stephen Jones, the fella that defended Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City Bomber, is now defending a fraternity that had a chapter closed after a video similar in theme to the Chelsea train one was put online.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...silon-fraternity-plans-to-sue-the-university/

So, could you be a defence lawyer, knowing that as well as fighting to save innocent people from prosecution you'd also have to, to do your job properly, get the best deal possible for rapists and murders.

Let me turn this round on you.

Could you be a District Attorney, offering possibly innocent people plea bargain deals because you know you have no evidence to convict them of the crime you are charging em with but still want a victory on your CV?

Defence lawyers and DA are the flip sides of the same coin.

Our whole legal system is supposedly based on the presumption of innocence and as such everyone is entitled to representation in court.

Demonising defence lawyers is a very dangerous step for any society.

One just never knows when oneself might just need the buggers.

 

[Hellerad]

I just put on a free 4 hour workshop for financial planning for elders in my community. I provided lunch to 41 people free of charge.

Complete [Poor language removed] attorney, I am.

 

[Huyton Layne]

Let me turn this round on you.

Could you be a District Attorney, offering possibly innocent people plea bargain deals because you know you have no evidence to convict them of the crime you are charging em with but still want a victory on your CV?

Defence lawyers and DA are the flip sides of the same coin.

Our whole legal system is supposedly based on the presumption of innocence and as such everyone is entitled to representation in court.

Demonising defence lawyers is a very dangerous step for any society.

One just never knows when oneself might just need the buggers.

Wasn't trying to demonize them really, just wondering whether people would have the mental strength to be able to deal with the dirty side of it to also to be able to help the people that need and deserve it. I personally think it would weigh too much on my soul to be able to even consider it as a job. Being able to free an innocent man would feel so fulfilling but then knowing to do your job if the police mishandled evidence you'd get a conviction thrown out when you believe or know the person is guilty. Seems a very mentally heavy job.

 

[Khalekan]

Wasn't trying to demonize them really, just wondering whether people would have the mental strength to be able to deal with the dirty side of it to also to be able to help the people that need and deserve it. I personally think it would weigh too much on my soul to be able to even consider it as a job. Being able to free an innocent man would feel so fulfilling but then knowing to do your job if the police mishandled evidence you'd get a conviction thrown out when you believe or know the person is guilty. Seems a very mentally heavy job.

No, I'm sorry I gave the impression if I thought you were demonising them, Layne.

You weren't.

I had widened the scope of my rant by that stage and was alluding to the fact that defence lawyers are the bête noir of every right wing novelist or screenplay writer in America.

They are always portrayed as shyster types or people in the employ of the mob when in actual fact the vast majority are good people making sure the citizen ain't at the mercy of the state.

Unfortunately this image has stuck and as far as the right are concerned, Johnny Cochrane was the Hollywood stereotype given flesh and bone

 

[Fresh Prince of Belle Val]

No comment

 

[Huyton Layne]

No, I'm sorry I gave the impression if I thought you were demonising them, Layne.

You weren't.

I had widened the scope of my rant by that stage and was alluding to the fact that defence lawyers are the bête noir of every right wing novelist or screenplay writer in America.

They are always portrayed as shyster types or people in the employ of the mob when in actual fact the vast majority are good people making sure the citizen ain't at the mercy of the state.

Unfortunately this image has stuck and as far as the right are concerned, Johnny Cochrane was the Hollywood stereotype given flesh and bone

It's sad the most famous ones aren't always the greatest. Also a great shame Robert Kardashian existed, for more than just his work.

 

[ElGato]

No comment

My client refuses to be drawn on this issue, and reiterates that he was at home with his mother at the time watching re-runs of Have I got News For You on Dave.