The Criminal Defense Lawyer's Duty

04/01/2009 - Suskauer Law Blog - Link to This Entry

Outside of work when people find out I’m a criminal defense lawyer I’m often asked: “How can you defend someone you know is guilty?” or “How can you sleep at night defending someone who’s guilty of a serious crime?” One common answer is that we can’t be sure who’s guilty or innocent until the facts and evidence are thoroughly analyzed and that the only way to protect the innocent is by effectively defending everyone.

At the Suskauer Law Firm, we are proud of the work we do as Criminal Defense lawyers. Our justice system is based on a Constitution that protects all citizens and affords them the right to an attorney even if they cannot afford one. Consider that the government has endless financial resources, law enforcement, and many lawyers seeking to prosecute the accused. The accused attorney’s duty is to zealously fight for their client. The defendant’s lawyer is not a judge, prosecutor, or member of a jury; rather, the lawyer is the defendant’s advocate, fighting for his/her client in an attempt to reach the client’s goals.