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: A Public Defender's Life in Alaska

By A Public Defender's Life in Alaska

So, today is my one year anniversary with the Alaska Public Defender Agency. Some thoughts. First, contrary to public opinion I do not hate all DA's. Quite frankly I don't trust any defense lawyer that says they could never be a DA. I also don't trust any DA that says they could never be a defense lawyer. We are hired guns. Our job is advance the position of the client, regardless of our personal opinion. Sometimes that is easy. Many of the rights that Americans take for granted were argued for by defense lawyers. On the other hand we have had to represent John Wayne Gacy. John Couey. Nazi's and war criminals. Many others who were guilty as hell and arguably deserved to die. But I am damn proud to be a defense lawyer. I have never told the story about how I became a defense lawyer, but one day I will. Every day I speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. I represent the poor. The addicted. The mentally ill. Every day I argue for more freedom. More rights. Of our right to be free from unreasonable search. To have a lawyer. To Due Process. To privacy. Sometimes I am frustrated with my job. With the case-load and the pay. With the addicted. The poor. The mentally ill. But what will my legacy be? Will I be one of those who will say I did nothing when the government became one of tyranny and oppression? Who argued for less rights? More police powers? No. And that is why I could never be a District Attorney.

Full post as published by A Public Defender's Life in Alaska on September 25, 2007 (boomark / email).