What happens if a defense attorney doesn’t believe the suspect’s story?
Sunday, March 30th, 2008 at
5:51 pm
vietboi_91x asked:
What will happen? Does the defense attorney still have to defend them?
What will happen? Does the defense attorney still have to defend them?
Filed under: Attorney FAQ
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Yes. To the best of his/her ability.
Yep.
Doesn’t matter what you know, it matters what you can prove.
They talk about it like it is usually and that most of the time they represent scum
The defendant’s story has nothing to do with the case. There are only a few defendant’s stories anyway… It wasn’t me, It was self defense, I was there but it was the other guy what done it. That’s about it.
Yes, defense counsel still has to defend, even if the whole world witnessed the crime being committed and ID’d him.
Most defense attorneys don’t believe their client’s stories because they know that the majority (all) of their clients are guilty. An attorney is not obligated to believe in the innocence of his client, he is only obligated to provide his client with the best possible defense.
No, they don’t have to defend them. Attorneys have rights too. The Defense Attorney can tell the client they don’t want the case.
If it is a Public Defender they could be forced to by a superior but I would let them know how I feel and why.
A defense attorney never has to defend anyone. Any lawyer can turn down any case. With the court’s permission, a defense attorney can withdraw from a case.
If a lawyer chooses to continue to represent the defendant, the lawyer should not allow the defendant to testify in his own behalf if the lawyer believes the defendant will commit perjury. If the defendant insists on testfying, the US Supreme Court mandates that the defense attorney withdraw from the case.
They don’t HAVE to defend them. They can get in trouble for abandoning the client in the middle of a trial.
Normaly nothing happens. Lots of lawyers defend lots of clients they believe are lying through their teeth.