Regarding the shooting of a cop in Pompano, Florida...
1. He shot a cop (sheriff's officer). 2. 1 or more witnesses SAW him shoot a cop. 3. He said he shot a cop. 4. He is already serving 2 life-sentences in jail (he was on the way to a doctor when he shot the cop, the cop was taking him there in a van). 5. He get's arrested - again, and a Public Defender lawyer is assigned to the case.
OK, you, as the Lawyer, knowing that this is an IMPOSSIBLE person to give any kind of defense too, do you look at your boss and say "are you mad at me today?" Or you just grab the file folder and go to visit your client?
2007-11-08 07:10:42 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
You grab the folder and give your client the best defense you can. There's a Constitutional right to a defense, and if you don't agree with the Constitution, or the right to a fair trial, you probably shouldn't have become a lawyer (Much less a PD!) in the first place.
Incidentally, while this is a far more serious crime than most, the basic situation is far from rare. The VAST majority of a PD's clients are as guilty as sin and have no valid defense. That's why PD's tend to have such a bad reputation. They lose almost all their cases - not because they're bad lawyers, but because they get all the hopeless cases.
A survey of prisoners in CA, by the way, found that the person a prisoner was MOST LIKELY to blame for his being in jail was not himself, not the victim who reported him, not the cop who arrested him, not the DA who prosecuted him, but the defense attorney who didn't get him acquitted... typically after he was caught by the cops with the stolen property still in his possesion AND after he'd given the cops a full confession :-(
Richard
2007-11-08 07:22:56 · answer #1 · answered by rickinnocal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suppose being an attorney is just like anything else, you have to take the good with the bad. I can't imagine anyone wanting that case. Although all his job really is would be to make sure his client's rights are not violated. I don't think he is going to lose any sleep if he doesn't get the guy a good deal.
From his perspective, he probably just hopes to make the best of the publicity he gets.
2007-11-08 07:15:37 · answer #2 · answered by trooper3316 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Public defenders are many times crap! you may hearth him, yet in maximum states once you hearth a public defender, the courts do no longer could provide you yet another one, so be careful. the final element you're able to do is tell him you're looking into submitting an charm and your grounds would be ineffective guidance of council
2016-11-10 20:25:12 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think if you are a legal secretary or paralegal then you would know that you just violated the attorney-client privilege. Anyone can go look it up to see who you are talking about. You can also get fired and get your boss disbarred.
I wouldn't say anything to him. I would wait for him to calm down before I speak to him. I would delete this question too.
2007-11-08 07:16:03 · answer #4 · answered by Rica 82 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put your tail between your legs, grab the folder, and throw the bird to your boss as you exit his office. Teeheehee!
I completely understand your question and have asked myself this before. I guess the PD gives it his best 'shot'!
2007-11-08 07:16:02 · answer #5 · answered by strwbrrytop 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do your job. It's not your business to judge. That's why there's courtrooms.
If you are employed in the justice system, you cannot let your personal feelings enter into anything you do. It's your job to put your feelings aside and do the work your expected to.
2007-11-08 09:07:02 · answer #6 · answered by autumlovr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do your work.
It's not your job to have the guy be found not guilty it is your job to defend him and be sure he gets a fair trial.
2007-11-08 07:15:29 · answer #7 · answered by Ben M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋