tired saw
I hope to get a job as a prosecutor some day. I hate scumbags who try to rationalize the necessity and importance of the job they do in protecting those that prey on the weak. I believe those self deluded individuals who take pride in defending child molesters are social deviants who should have to notify their neighbors that they've moved into the area. Those that defend sexual predators and proclaim their innocence and feel good about it are not able capable of reasonable thought and have no concept of right and wrong. No legal argument in the world could convince me of the honor in defending slime, but I can understand how those defense attorneys need to fool themselves into believing in what they do or else they'd hate themselves. I feel sorry for those people.
Armoredsquid,
You're not alone in this belief. Many people feel the way you do. As a criminal defense lawyer I've long since grown immune to these baseless attacks on my profession. I'm certain you'd sing a different tune if a seven year old boy unjustly accused you of molesting him. Then you'd do an about-face and prey for competent, zealous advocacy on your behalf. Or is it that you believe only the, "innocent" are entitled to zealous advocacy? And who determines that? You? Or do you believe that the "innocent" never get charged with crimes?
And you want to be a prosecutor? If your comments about the defense of those charged with commiting sex crimes is any indication, you lack even a basic understanding of how the legal system works, and as such, are ill-equipped to serve as a prosecutor. I deal with prosecutors on a daily basis, and trust me when I tell you, they all admire and appreciate the hard work defense counsel does on behalf of their clients. Without it, there is no rule of law. Your comments make it obvious that you don't understand the first thing about what it means to be a prosecutor.
Consider this: Without zealous advocacy on behalf of the criminally accused, there is only summary rush to judgement. Is that really what you want? No more justice? Just take the "guilty," (or at least, the ones you think are "guilty"), out back, and shoot 'em without a trial? Is that really preferable under your sense of ethics to giving the criminally accused a fair trial with competent and zealous defense?
That's alright, you don't have to answer that question, 'cause you already have. The only thing sadder than your post is the fact that so many others feel the same way.
And those same people scratch their heads in disbelief, wondering why it is the rest of the world views most Americans as uneducated, vulgar, fools.
One can only hope that as you continue on your journey to becoming a prosecutor that you learn something about justice and ethics so that you can serve the people of your jurisdiction in the way the law envisioned rather than using your power to further your personal agenda.
Elton, if defending child molesters is how you "fight the man", well then i hope the man wins. I do not prejudice against race or religion, but if you're a child molester, it then becomes a personal choice, and if you have not acted on it, a belief. For you to defend someone who preys on the weak, ouch man. It says a lot about your personality. I guess if you didn't, then someone else would, but i wouldn't really mind if there was a NAMBLA meeting out in the middle of nowhere, and the united states decided to "disarm" some of their remaining nukes in that very spot. People who sexually assault other people are worse than worthless in our society. In fact, they counteract progress.Whoever mentioned that this is America, and that we have the right to hate whomever we want for any reason, is correct. My hate is contagious. I don't like "child molesters", or those who support them.
Gillis,
I don't defend child molestors; I defend people accused of molesting children. It's not the same thing. The problem with your analysis is that it presumes guilt rather than innocence. Don't forget that my next client could be you. That's right, YOU! Somebody could wrongly accuse you of doing a horrible act. Most peole don't believe that happens until it happens to them. Then they realize. I only prey this doesn't happen to you, 'cause I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. As I've mentioned before on this forum, any American can pay lip service to the phrase, "All defendants are innocent until proven guilty," but few Americans really understand what those words means, much less believe them.
If you believe that innocent people are never falsely accused and subsequently convicted of acts they didn't do, then you've been sold a bill of goods by "The Man." It happens. And it happens more often than people care to admit.
Think about that the next time you rush to judgement against a child molestor or the man who defended him.
Do I only defend the "innocent?" Of course not. Many of my clients have done some or all of the things they're charged with, and are found guilty. But in order to protect the wrongly accused, it's essential that each and every criminal defendant, (including child molesters, murderers, and rapists), receive a competent, zealous defense.
Elton