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Ethical Dilemmas When Shadowing My Attorney

1252 Words6 Pages

One of the most respected maxims in the American legal system is the presumption of innocence. This principle, embodied in the phrase "innocent until proven guilty," holds that anyone accused of a crime is considered innocent until the charges against them are proven. It places the burden of proof on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.This fundamental notion is the foundation of the judicial system and is significantly associated with the concept of due process. Due process is essential for defendants' rights, but they are frequently ignored or unknown by the accused. To effectively assert these rights, the defendant needs the services of an attorney. While shadowing my attorney, Michael Reyes, I realized the value that …show more content…

That is the moral ambiguity surrounding the defense of an individual who may be guilty of committing a crime. This paper discusses the ethical dilemma of providing legal representation to clients whose behavior may contradict morality and societal norms, based on my internship experience. Despite this ethical predicament, I will shed light on the importance of legal representation and the significance of attorney-client privilege and due process. During my time shadowing my attorney, two instances arose that made me question the ethical implications of defending an individual who may be guilty of a crime. Without disclosing personal information, I will refer to the defendant as A and the victim as B. The first instance that I experienced was related to an evidentiary hearing, which is a legal proceeding where evidence and legal arguments are presented to a judge for a decision on a disputed issue. The disputed issue may be related to evidence admissibility in the upcoming trial, or it may arise after the trial and call into question the original decision made during the trial. In this case, A allegedly violated the condition of release by contacting B and threatening

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