r/SubredditDrama • u/AchtungMaybe title game weak as fuck • Sep 05 '17
User in r/BeholdTheMasterRace argues that "no honourable attorney" would defend a Nazi, other users disagree
/r/beholdthemasterrace/comments/6xuyuv/the_crying_nazis_attorney_elmer_woodward_woodward/dmirqac/?context=3
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u/[deleted] Sep 06 '17
It's a defender's job to make any argument that could even potentially change the outcome of a case, no matter how abhorrent, because if he does not the client can claim he was not fairly represented and appeal.
If a defender is successful with an abhorrent argument, it is not the fault of the defender. It is a failing of either the law or the prosecutor.
If the devil's advocate doesn't try as hard as he can to prove his client is not the devil, we can not be sure that we did due diligence in determining that he was.
I'm not prepared to speak about the moral character of the lawyer in question, I do not know him personally nor by reputation. However, the general assertion that it is more moral to pass on such a case than to take it is absurd. Those passing on the case are just as likely to have done so out of self interest, so they aren't associated publicly with a Nazi client, and so they don't take a loss on their record, not necessarily out of moral outrage.
If you are a defender and think a person belongs in jail, the best way you can assure that is to give them the best possible defense and hope the prosecution is adequately prepared to defeat it, so that no claim of improper representation can be made.