Secrets in Criminal Defense: Why Lawyers Can Defend Someone Who’s Guilty
A lot of people have always wondered why there are plenty of lawyers who do criminal defense to defend someone who is obviously guilty of a crime. This is often something that the public questions, particularly in high-profile cases wherein there appear to be a lot of strong evidence that the suspect was really the one who did the crime.
Often, lawyers who practice criminal defense are seen in a bad light. Many think that they are just in it for the money and that they represent society’s villains! But if you’re at the other side of the story, the one being accused of a crime, you’ll surely be thankful that there are lots of excellent criminal defense lawyers out there.
So, what are the secrets of a criminal attorney? How can they really do their job despite knowing deep down that their client is guilty?
They Know Everyone Has Rights
It is hard for many of us to accept it, but every lawyer knows that all people, regardless if they were guilty or not, have constitutional rights. They know the difference between ‘factual guilt’ and ‘legal guilt’. The client might be guilty but his rights should still be protected. One such right is the right to a legal counsel in court.
They are unpopular in the public’s eyes, yet criminal defense lawyers can find loopholes that can make their clients win despite being ‘factual guilty’.
They Do a Lot of Research and Investigation
If you think that the police are the only ones doing investigations, you’re wrong. Criminal defense attorneys do that, too. However, their methods are different from the cops. But to best defend their client, they have to do a lot of research and investigation.
In the course of the investigation and trial, certain ‘truths’ might come out that truly show the client’s guilt. However, the attorney-client privilege protects communication between a criminal attorney and clients. Thus, it is not the job of the criminal defense attorney to share what he learned in court, even if it is the factual truth.
In short, the job of the criminal attorney is to defend the client. It is the court’s job to discern true guilt.
They Don’t Let Personal Feelings Get in the Way
Indeed, those in criminal defense know that their client is guilty but they don’t let personal feelings get in the way. Others don’t really care whether their client is guilty or not because it is also possible that there are lots of underlying reasons why the suspect did something.
They Thrive on the Intellectual Excitement of the Case
There’s nothing more exciting for a lawyer than to win a case in court. This goes even for a criminal attorney! They get a bad rep in the public’s eyes, particularly in high-profile cases, yet there really is this thrill in winning a case that everyone is so sure they would lose.
While everyone might hate them for it, the intellectual excitement of the case can easily give them an adrenaline rush. However, unlike cases on TV, most cases are actually quite boring and take much longer than just a few days. Many go on for months, even years!
So, just in case you needed one, make sure to choose a good criminal attorney to help you win the case.