Comments on: Business Plan: Never Lose

By: Sorry, but Justice is all there is | People v. State

Sorry, but Justice is all there is | People v. State — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 17:16:43 +0000

[...] defending those accused of committing crimes. Never mind that I’ve cited a couple old dogs in support of what seems to me true. Never mind that if I am not qualified to opine on something so [...]

By: Jeff Gamso

Jeff Gamso — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:25:37 +0000

It’s a curious definition that has me winning while my client gets executed because I know I’ve done the best I could. That’s not a win for me. Sorry. That’s a big loss.

And the victim of a crime (by which I assume you mean individual harmed) can never win or lose in a criminal case because that victim isn’t a party and has no legally relevant interest in the outcome. The only “victim” in a criminal case is the body politic.

By: Matthew Arnold

Matthew Arnold — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:12:32 +0000

If the system decides the case correctly and fairly, in a sense society wins.
If an advocate, on either side, does his job professionally and zealously, to the point where he or she knows that they did the absolute best job they could do for their client, then they win, regardless of the outcome of the case.
A person charged with a crime, or a victim of a crime, never really win, they merely survive.

By: Gerry Spence Has Never Lost A Jury Trial: It Depends On What The Meaning Of “Lose” Is. | Popehat

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:33:35 +0000

[...] been reading a fine discussion from John Kindley and Mark Bennett on Gerry Spence’s claim, which I’ll accept as true, that he has never lost a trial [...]

By: The ideal ideal

The ideal ideal — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:07:32 +0000

[...] 1) by being a prosecutor, 2) by flat out lying about it and 3) by being a defense lawyer who picks his cases very [...]

By: Gideon

Gideon — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:25:00 +0000

Ah you private lawyers and your funny squabbles.

By: Defending People » A(n Ex-)Prosecutor’s Principles

Defending People » A(n Ex-)Prosecutor’s Principles — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:59:05 +0000

[...] Vincent Bugliosi, in a comment posted by John Kindley: ‘Everyone is entitled to be represented by an attorney’ is the [...]

By: Yet another installment in an unintentional series on Justice and Criminal Defense | People v. State

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:42:59 +0000

[...] a post Norm Pattis wrote about Gerry Spence’s claim that he had never lost a criminal case, muses: I wonder: what if a criminal defense lawyer took only cases that she could [...]

By: Jeff Gamso

Jeff Gamso — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:46:24 +0000

Weighing in late (hey, I’ve been busy defending people), I nevertheless feel constrained to echo (and expand on) something of what Mirriam said. I don’t much want to represent innocent people (more precisely, those I believe to be factually innocent). I’ve done it, and it’s no fun.

Perry Mason isn’t my role model. The case that’s interesting or that provides the opportunity to maybe make good law or where there seems some particular injustice against which to rail or where they want to kill the accused (or already convicted), that’s what I’ll eagerly sign on for.

It’s probably a lousy business plan, but it reminds me of why I’m in this business. (On the other hand, my wife would sure like it if I brought in more cash.)

By: Mark Bennett

Mark Bennett — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:38:19 +0000

Spence would probably say (and Bugliosi would certainly say) either that physicians are different (which would be a copout) or that as long as there are other physicians who will treat anyone, a physician can choose whom he will and will not treat

The more I read Bugliosi’s quote, the more it seems that he displays symptoms of ethical retardation.