How do defense attorneys do it?
By mom_of_2
@mom_of_2 (398)
Canada
March 19, 2007 5:15pm CST
I do believe a person is innocent until proven guilty AND I believe SOME people deserve a fair trial which includes a defense attorny. BUT ... how can lawyers defend an individual who pleads guilty to a violent crime? I'm refering to "people" (I use the word people loosely) who intentionally harm children, woman, or take the life of another human. Recently the news reported a story of a woman sexually abusing two young children and the woman in question pled GUILTY...her lawyer gets on t.v and without blinking said "I think the sentence (5 years in prison) the prosecution has asked for is harsh, 3 years would be sufficient". SUFFICIANT? Would that attorny think 5 years is to harsh if those children were his? How do you defend these crimes? There is no excuse, no defense no reason why someone should be excused from doing these crimes. I wonder if defense attornies sleep at night?
Am I the only one who thinks when someone is guilty (without a doubt) there should just be a suitable punishment to be payed...no defense needed?
4 people like this
6 responses
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
19 Mar 07
A lawyer is not essentially defending someone whom has plead guilty, he is more or less negotiating a sentence for his client. What the sentence is and what the attorney asks for or thinks is reasonable are two different things. The judge is not obliged to follow attornet recommendations when he sentences someone. And you must keep in mind that the judge does the sentencing not the attorney so however it ends up it is the judge that has the final say.
2 people like this
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
19 Mar 07
You made good point however the lawyers are still hired to defend
2 people like this
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
19 Mar 07
Good Thread Excellent question and in my opinion here's the answer. It's all about money. These lawyers are defending woman beaters, theives, drunks, child molesters and filty murderers. Why, sure isn't because they think it's a good idea to do these crimes but it's always money. Money is more important to people to day than any human life. Child woman it just doesn't matter. I'd love to come face to face with these "People lawyers" and ask them if it was their loved ones would they defend these low life no good for nothings ? No I don't think so. In the news recently some creep knocked a lady over, smashed her teeth in and threw her walker on top of her. The lady was 101 years old.So what was he after MONEY of course.He got 33.00
I'm going to shut up now. This is JUST MY OPINION !!!!
2 people like this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
20 Mar 07
For sure it is about money...they are doing a job and trying to support there families. As the saying goes, it is a dirty job but someone has to do it and without defense the legal system is worthless because our bill of rights and constitution guarantee us the right of representation. And as food for thought some of these defense lawyers do not have the option to say no because they are assigned by the court to defend. According to the legal system if the defense does not do the best job he can then it is a mistrial and the culprit goes totally free.
2 people like this
@suscan (1955)
• United States
20 Mar 07
That has to be hard for them, They are actually just doing their job by making the justice system in this country is upheld. But with all these plea bargains and such how can that be done. So many times the guilty people get out on some technicality and commit a crime again, especially violent offenders. It must be hard to defend some of the perverted criminals.
2 people like this
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
27 Mar 08
I agree with you, but I'm hesitant to get rid of defense attorneys entirely. They make the process fair and keep the prosecutors on their toes.
@huggiebear22 (2007)
• Canada
3 Apr 07
I have taken a new look on the law and lawyers, judges and they whole system in general. It seems to me that it is geared to who ever has the most time adn money will get what they want or close to it. It not about what is wrong or right anymore it is about who has the most money, best PR campaign, and the most time to spend filling out paper work and appeals. Here in BC there was a teacher who took advantage of several teenage girls over his career adn he got 2 yrs house arrest but his career lasrted 30 yrs those poor girls whose life he ruined. I am not of the forgive and forget mentality I belive in "do the crime do the time."
@huggiebear22 (2007)
• Canada
3 Apr 07
yup some of the sentences are terrible there was one here where they were given time served for beat a child
@KissThis (3003)
• United States
9 Apr 07
Even when a crimainal admits to the wrong doing they have the legal right to representation. If the lawyer doesn't put in a good faith effort to bargain for his/her client then the client can sentence thrown out. A lawyer that doesn't do hid best to represent a cllient can lose his law license.
I caouldn't live with myself if I had to be a defense attorney because I wouldn't be able to follow the rules.
