You are working for a criminal defense lawyer. She is representing a man accused of kidnapping, raping and ?

Question

raping and videotaping the murder of a two year-old child. How would you feel about assisting the attorney on the case? Are there ethical issues in allowing one's personal feelings to be expressed in working on a case? What if you have strong feelings against the client's position?

Answer 1

Shouldn't have any problems defending the person, that's why you're working for a criminal defense attorney (who gets all types of cases). If one still wants to work for a criminal defense attorney but doesn't want exposure to these types of cases, find attorneys who handle DUIs.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Because of your feelings about this client it seems unethical for you work on this case. Under US law those accused of crimes are entitled to the "best" legal representation available. While you have every right to be uncomfortable working with this client and may ask to be removed, you have no right to stay on the case and do a lack luster job.

Here is a interesting quote for you to think about:

"Yet we need once again to focus on what we do and why we do it. Justice is not and has never been a result. Justice is a process. Whatever the result may be, its propriety, its efficacy is determined by the fairness, honesty and decency of the process, the path we travel to the outcome, not the outcome itself. Those accused may well not be thieves, rapists, murderers and child molesters, but for the opportunity to establish so with the assistance of competent counsel."

Answer 4

yes
if you cannot keep your feelings out of the case,and do the best job you can for the lawyer.
then you have an ethical obligation to the lawyer and to the public and to the courts and to the client to step out of the case.
because your not going to do your best for your employeer, their client,or the courts.
but if you cannot get off the case then restrain your feelings
if you cannot restrain your feeling and you cannot sleep at night , and you feel they are guilty then ethics and morals
say be true to thys self ?
this attorney your working for may fell the same way you do
but for me the attorneys that sit back and let cases like this go by are infact cheatting them selfs of the practice of law
because thats all that it is practice.

Answer 5

I would not let my emotions get in the way. Defendants deserve a fair chance. Upholding the law is of the utmost importance. One ethical reason is it's highly unprofessional to openly express your views on the charges, video and person. It does not matter what position you have on the case. Serve the client to the best of your ability.

Answer 6

find another line of work

the point of mounting an excellent defense for anyone accused is to assure that as few innocent people as possible are sent to prison or executed.

if this isn't more important to you than the individual case, you're in the wrong business. Get a job in either contract law or with the prosecution.

GL

Answer 7

Well.. do you know for sure this person is guilty. Was you boss hired or appointed? If appointed then her job is to make sure the accused has a fair trial. Then if the accused is guilty and is found to be so by a jury or through admission of guilt then hopefully there will be no grounds for an appeal to get them off at some later date.

Answer 8

Everyone is innocent until proven guilty and entitled to the best defense counsel possible. That's the way our system works. Someone working for the lawyer has to put aside his feelings to assist his boss.
Now, having said that, if this person really did commit this crime and is found guilty, I hope he fries.

Answer 9

there are reasons one woudln't want to do that. but what if teh guy is innocent and didn't do this. as liberal as it sounds you can't condemn a person before you know it all. but if you don't feel you can do this ethically let someone else do it.