How do defense attorneys do it?

May 2021 4 31 Report

How do defense attorneys do it?

How can defense attorneys morally defend someone who is guilty? I've been a victim of domestic battery and the defendant's attorney has made me feel like more of a victim because of the nasty and untrue things he's said about me in court. I recently found out that the attorney has 2 daughters. Does he not think of "what if someday some jerk strangled my daughter"?

Morally, I just don't understand it. I'm not trying to be disrespectful, but is it the paycheck? The challenge? The thrill? How can you possible defend someone who attacked me with our toddler son in his arms?

Any ideas?

Politics & Government / Law & Ethics

wizjp

Verified answer

Everyone has a job in the legal system. Your job is to put on the best defense you can. I agree with you totally. I'm reminded of the line in THe BIg Chil from the lawyer who quit the public defender's office;" I just never thought they would be so guilty."

Untill you get sick of it and move out of criminal law.

jaymes_07

All criminal defendants have the right to have an attorney in court and the best defense possible. Without defense attorneys anybody could be accused of a crime, and if they didn't know the law or have good communication skills they could be convicted even if they are innocent. The lawyer is just doing his job of representing his client.

Anonymous

A good defense attorney does not ask his client if he committed the crime. Many ask only what they told police and what physical evidence was taken from them. They then attack the charges using testimony from others, including cross examination of the accuser. There is then no moral dilemma.

Remember that in the US people are presumed innocent and the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a shadow of doubt. The defense attorney probes to create doubt in the minds of the jurors.

I defended a young college man at the beginning of my career accused of raping a coed. By interviewing her friends on campus I was able to expose the fact that she had told at least 4 different versions of the rape and that she was claiming rape only because the young man had bragged to others about having sex with her. My client went free, as he should have.