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November 25, 2009

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Letter: Why heap criticism on defense lawyers?

Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1998 | 10:03 a.m.

As a past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, I question: What if we did not have attorneys, who challenge the power of government and keep the system honest? Who would be the guardian against government violating our cherished Bill of Rights? Who would protect the presumption of innocence which makes our criminal justice system special?

The Founders of our nation believed that the government's mere accusation of wrongdoing should not be the equivalent of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and thus had established the adversarial system where before a citizen can be convicted, the government must prove its case to a moral certainty, with lawfully obtained evidence.

The criminal defense lawyer, representing the unpopular and scorned (who at times are your own friends and family members) is the buffer against tyrants, despots and bullies, and proudly can say, is "Liberty's Last Champion."

Oscar Goodman

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