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Her Kind of Case


A highly-recommended emotion-filled legal drama with three starred reviews!
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Jeremy may have been innocent, but do you agree with the work that Lee does to represent clients that are guilty? Do you think that you would ever be able to do the same?

Created: 05/16/19

Replies: 8

Posted May. 16, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Jeremy may have been innocent, but do you agree with the work that Lee does to represent clients that are guilty? Do you think that you would ever be able to do the same?

Lee works incredibly hard to defend suspects in some pretty serious cases. She mentions one in which she won a lesser sentence for a mother who smothered her baby to death. She says that she has received hate mail and occasionally death threats for such work. Jeremy may have been innocent, but do you agree with the work that Lee does to represent clients that are guilty? Do you think that you would ever be able to do the same?


Posted May. 21, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
paulak

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 264

RE: Jeremy may have been innocent, but do you agree with the work that Lee does to represent clients that are guilty? Do you think that you would ever be able to do the same?

Yes, agree that defense of the apparent guilty is critical. It is one of the backbones of our legal system. If even 5% of accused are innocent (which is probably a low number), it worthwhile, despite our agreement with their lifestyle choices let alone the circumstances of the crime.


Posted May. 21, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
laurap

Join Date: 06/19/12

Posts: 407

RE: Jeremy may have been innocent, but do you agree with the work that Lee does to represent clients that are guilty? Do you think that you would ever be able to do the same?

Having one's case presented clearly and competently is as important for the guilty as it is for the innocent. It is, as Paulak notes, the backbone of our legal system.


Posted May. 21, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
evelyng

Join Date: 02/07/18

Posts: 49

RE: Jeremy may have been innocent, but do you agree with the work that Lee does to represent clients that are guilty? Do you think that you would ever be able to do the same?

Yes, I do agree with the work that Lee does. It takes a special turn of mind and experience to view all sides and nuances of any given situation, and to be able to examine and define and defend people who might seem beyond redemption, takes a greatly admired mindset for me. I have often thought of the work that Public Defenders do and wondered if all of them slept well at night, because although the high of helping those innocent has to be extremely heady......they oft times help turn monsters back into society. I have often thought of that too.


Posted May. 21, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
taking.mytime's Gravatar
taking.mytime

Join Date: 03/29/16

Posts: 364

RE: Jeremy may have been innocent, but do you agree with the work that Lee does to represent clients that are guilty? Do you think that you would ever be able to do the same?

There has to be system to ferret out guilt or innocence. Although we are well aware that that system is often unreliable and incorrect there still must remain the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. And ensure that there is someone with the knowledgeable working mentality to move a person through the process.

I loved debate class in high school and college and did fairly well in competition. I think I could have been a pretty good public defender as an occupation, however privately it would have eventually emotionally torn me up. And I think that stands regardless of which side I would be on - public defender or prosecuting attorney. Either occupation can be a dirty unfulfilling job.


Posted May. 21, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
cynthiaa

Join Date: 04/14/11

Posts: 112

RE: Jeremy may have been innocent, but do you agree with the work that Lee does to represent clients that are guilty? Do you think that you would ever be able to do the same?

I think a criminal defense attorney has an obligation to make sure his client has a fair trial. That is his job. Not to try and get a guilty person off but to make sure he gets a fair trial


Posted May. 27, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
acstrine

Join Date: 02/06/17

Posts: 438

RE: Jeremy may have been innocent, but do you agree with the work that Lee does to represent clients that are guilty? Do you think that you would ever be able to do the same?

Thank you for reminding me of what Lee's actual role is, cynthiaa. Sometimes my first thought after hearing about a particularly heinous crime is "how can that lawyer represent a killer/rapist/abuser?" It is sometimes hard for me to separate the person from his/her job. Just because a defense attorney is representing someone charged with a crime, DOES NOT mean he/she condones the behavior! And thank goodness there are people who are willing to stand up and support those accused.

I know that I would have a difficult time in that position. I admire people who can deal with the ugly side of humans day in and day out- -defense attorneys, counselors helping those accused of sexual or domestic abuse.

I think Lee benefits by being in private practice a little bit. She can pick and choose who she wants to represent. Phil seemed to be suffering from the effects of the "dirty, unfulfilling" side of the job. Day in and day out of dealing with the worst of people would be incredibly wearing on a person. I would be afraid that I would lose my idealism and ability to be empathetic and compassionate after awhile.


Posted May. 27, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Amymp

Join Date: 11/30/16

Posts: 11

RE: Jeremy may have been innocent, but do you agree with the work that Lee does to represent clients that are guilty? Do you think that you would ever be able to do the same?

I know that I could never be a defense attorney because I could never knowingly help a guilty person go free. For that reason, I admired Lee and her ability to provide a real defense for Jeremy.


Posted May. 27, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
laurer

Join Date: 11/20/14

Posts: 25

RE: Jeremy may have been innocent, but do you agree with the work that Lee does to represent clients that are guilty? Do you think that you would ever be able to do the same?

In our world of constant scientific breakthroughs in the analysis of DNA, etc. frequently we read of cases being overturned based on NEW evidence that results in determining the innocence of people incarcerated for years or, worse, put to death. The "Central Park 5" is a perfect example of this. What nightmares haunt their original defense attorneys now knowing their clients were innocent?

Personally, I would rather see guilty persons occasionally escape punishment than one person who is innocent incarcerated or worse.

It is not the job of a criminal defense attorney to determine the guilt or innocense of the client. In fact, most attorneys will not, purposely, ever ask their clients if they are guilty. Their job is to provide a defense for the accused who is innocent until proven guilty. I believe that good defense attorneys have to resolve these issues in their own minds early on in their careers. Those that are unable to come to grips with it can easily continue to practice in other areas of law.


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