12/03/2025
As a criminal defense lawyer, at least twice a week (thrice on weekends), I get asked: âHow can you represent the worst criminals in society?â (You know⌠alleged murderers, armed robbers, drug dealers, smugglers, and that one guy who swears the co***ne âjust blew into his car.â)
If this question has ever occurred to you about me or my colleagues, allow me show you a mirror:
* Do you not make a living?
* Do you not go to work?
* Do you do your job as a professionalâ as a doctor, salesperson, server, manager, engineer, whatever?
Now imagine this:
Youâre a doctor. Your next patient walks in.
Before you treat them, do you ask:
* âExcuse me, are you a teacher or a violent felon?â
* âA firefighter or a drug dealer?â
* âA scientist or an armed robber?â
* Do you even care?
* Are you supposed to care?
* Or are you supposed to... you know⌠do your job?
* You heal, you help, you act professionally.
* And nobody judges you for treating all patients, right?
* In fact, we call that being a professional.
Then, why are criminal defense lawyers any different?
* My jobâmy dutyâis to defend people, not their charges.
* To ensure that the system plays by its own rules (which most of them are rigged against us).
* To stand between any human being and the overwhelming power of the government.
* And to do it regardless of what someone is accused of. (Key word: accused.)
* & not just for my client but to ensure the integrity of the process stays intact for the rest of us.
* Bc. if it breaks down for my client, it can break down for anyone else.
So the next time you wonder how I represent âthose people,â remember:
* Every profession has its duty.
* Mine just happens to be protecting rights, ensuring fairness, andâon a good dayâkeeping society from accidentally steamrolling its own citizens.
âŚin times of judge not others, lest ye be judged! âď¸ đŠđťââď¸
