Table of Contents
Do defense attorneys have a say in who they represent?
Criminal defense attorneys are ethically required to zealously represent their clients, no matter what their personal opinion of the case may be. This means that criminal defense attorneys are required to do their best to advocate for their clients, even if the attorney believes the client is guilty.
Can police lie to your lawyer?
THE POLICE MAY LIE TO YOU Insist on speaking to a lawyer and having a lawyer present before you answer any questions. The police might tell you that they have your fingerprints or a videotape. If more than one person is arrested they might tell you that the other person has given a statement implicating you.
Is breaking attorney-client privilege illegal?
The attorney-client privilege protects most communications between clients and their lawyers. But, according to the crime-fraud exception to the privilege, a client’s communication to her attorney isn’t privileged if she made it with the intention of committing or covering up a crime or fraud.
Why do defense attorneys ask police officers if they have training?
Defense attorneys will commonly ask an officer if he/she received training in the academy (or otherwise) on how to sound believable on the stand. The purpose is to suggest the officer is practiced at deceiving and appears credible because of special training in how to act, not because she’s testifying truthfully.
Why do defense attorneys attack the credibility of officers?
Defense attorneys will attack an officer’s credibility more often and harder than other prosecution witnesses just because you’re an officer. They know if they can raise a doubt about your credibility, it may cause a judge or jury to doubt the credibility of the entire case (remember Mark Fuhrman?).
What is a criminal defense attorney’s job?
To win in the courtroom arena, it’s essential to understand the criminal defense attorney’s job. The duty of any attorney is to represent the interests of their client, and defendants are interested in getting off – regardless of whether they committed the crime.
What happens if the court punts to the defense attorney?
If the court punts to the defense attorney, advise the defense attorney the same thing. If the defense attorney insists, he will be clearly communicating he intends to mislead the jury. 4. Miscasting the Officer as Biased