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To: ProtectOurFreedom
The defense attorney argued that he “couldn’t be guilty of murder because he was too drunk to know what he was doing” because of his 0.20% BAC?? That is a disgusting and reprehensible defense!

Everyone deserves a defense thanks to the 6th Amendment. In some situations there is no defense, like this one. That does not mean that the Attorney should not give one. The 12 jurors are their as the BS meter. Generally it work pretty good. I don't like the Bill of Rights infringed upon no matter how heinous the criminal is.

15 posted on 02/02/2011 10:07:12 PM PST by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
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To: Lazlo in PA

Even a murderer deserves a defense... only totalitarian societies railroad people into prison with show trials.

We don’t have that here and a defense for the bad guys is part of the price we pay for living in a civilized society.


18 posted on 02/02/2011 10:10:15 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Lazlo in PA

That’s exactly why I didn’t say he should be taken out back and shot before the trial. Now that he’s fairly tried by a jury of peers and convicted, they should take him out back and shoot him.


25 posted on 02/02/2011 10:33:28 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: Lazlo in PA
Everyone deserves a defense thanks to the 6th Amendment. In some situations there is no defense, like this one.

They deserve an opportunity to provide whatever defense there is. They do not deserve the opportunity invent a defense that flies in the face of reason.

51 posted on 02/03/2011 4:17:51 AM PST by tacticalogic
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To: Lazlo in PA; ProtectOurFreedom
Everyone deserves a defense thanks to the 6th Amendment. In some situations there is no defense, like this one. That does not mean that the Attorney should not give one.

Yep. Every defense attorney is obligated by professional conduct to provide a defense, even one that's totally absurd. If they don't defend their client, any guilty verdict could be thrown out for ineffective counsel. Nobody wants a retrial (except, perhaps, the defendant). In this way, a competent defense attorney actually aids the prosecution in reaching a verdict that will stand up under appeal. This is why the defense attorney will throw everything against the wall and see what sticks, no matter how ridiculous.

From the outside it looks like a mockery of justice but there's good reason for it. Most of the time it works. A good prosecutor will do his job and prove a truly guilty defendant guilty and because the defendant was adequately represented, this verdict has a better chance to remain in place.

103 posted on 02/05/2011 10:52:53 AM PST by Gena Bukin
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