I understand that a lawyer cannot knowingly misrepresent anything in court. But we all know that lawyers are paid to be “artful”. I’m saying that being “artful” ought to be a crime. Which is a bit subjective, but it should still be a constant worry for any lawyer.
I think of the Clintons and the people representing the Clintons. Sex isn’t sex. Is isn’t Is. There are a thousand ways that lawyers lie in court without lying in court. It’s the game they all play.
To be concrete: A lawyer should represent a murderer as best they can. But the lawyer’s first word to his client should be: “If you confess to me, I am obligated to tell the court.” That is not how it’s currently done, but I think it should be. All lawyers should serve justice and not their client or the government. Find the truth, say the truth. That isn’t currently their job description. Which is why they lie all the time.
My Client Confessed Privately: What Should I Do?
As conservatives, we have (or should have) a visceral distrust of government - and as we're seeing now, for very good reason. We need to have in place a mechanism that forces the government to make its case. The Constitution does a very good job of providing that mechanism.