"Lawyers who accept our professional responsibility to protect the rule of law, the right to counsel, and access to our courts – even when this requires defending unpopular positions or clients – deserve the praise and gratitude of all Americans. They also deserve respect. Those who reaffirm our nation’s most essential and enduring values do not deserve to have their own values questioned. Let me be clear about this: Lawyers who provide counsel for the unpopular are, and should be treated as what they are: Patriots."
--Attorney General Eric Holder, March 19, 2010
2 comments:
One of my clients who is unpopular was just given a sentence that was over the top. This posting, which I sent to all the lawyers in my PD office made me feel a little bit better. Thanks.
I might be slightly off topic but as an English Magistrate I enjoy attending what we call remand and you call arraignment courts when I`m anywhere where English is used and thank god we kicked the French and Dutch out of your Eastern Seaboard. Anyway I was in I presume central Manhattan Arraignments Court when the Public Defender persuaded the judge to allow a recidivist begger to walk. As they were both right in front of me in the public gallery I saw the PD place a $bill in his client`s hand and say quite clearly, "this is your bus fare". Never would have happened here. Incidentally was most embarrassed when I stood up as the judge left the courtroom to be told abruptly by one of New York`s finest to remain seated till the judge leaves the court. The very opposite pertains here; remain sitting when the judge or magistrate enters or leaves and you could be in the cells for contempt. Great site......I`ll visit again.
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