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Judge Keller Blames the Victim

By Shawn Matlock

One thing that defense attorneys often do that most prosecutors despise is to blame the victim.  We put the victim on trial.  If we can blame the victim for the predicament our client is currently in, then perhaps we can make the argument that our client isn't truly responsible after all.  A lot of people don't like this tactic.  In fact, the rules of evidence actually prohibit that tactic in many situations.  Prosecutors don't like having to defend their victim.  Judges get annoyed and often tell defense attorneys to "defend your client, don't sling mud at the victim."  This tactic is just one of the many varied reasons most prosecutors, judges and common everyday people don't like defense attorneys.  Of course, as with many things, it's easy to dislike something when you don't need it...continue to full post

Full post as published by The Matlock Blog on March 25, 2009 (boomark / email).