An old college friend send me a message the other day. She had an important question for me . How could I represent criminals if I knew they were guilty ? It didn’t take me long to come up with an answer . All of God’s children need help. Sometimes they go astray , are lead astray , or are just wired wrong. Sometimes I represent those that are guilty but are overcharged in their cases by the government to force the accused to accept a plea bargain agreement. Sometimes they need help for defending them during the sentencing phase of the case . The most important part is the oath that criminal defense lawyers take to defend their clients zealously and to defend the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.