A barrister's job is to put the case for the defense as effectively and clearly as would his client if he had an advocate's skills. The barrister's belief or disbelief in the truth of the story is irrelevant: it's for the jury to decide this often difficult question.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Defense lawyers must represent clients zealously regardless of personal belief.
- In plain terms
- A lawyer's job is to argue the best case, not judge the truth.
- What can you take from it?
- Fulfill professional duties even when personal views conflict.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can you represent someone you believe is guilty?
- How do you handle ethical conflicts at work?
Another view
Personal morality can occasionally override professional duty.
More from John Mortimer
Beliefs about how you live your life, matters of private decision, views best kept for private enjoyment, prejudice or entertainment, can't be imposed by the o…
Permalink to quote #1 And in spite of David and Jonathan, Hamlet and Horatio, Caesar and Antony, Bush and Blair, women have a greater gift, I think, for friendship.
Permalink to quote #3 The three towering geniuses of European culture, Shakespeare, Mozart and Leonardo da Vinci were not allowed to appear on the euro note as they might, in their …
Permalink to quote #4
Related quotes
Monsters remain human beings. In fact, to reduce them to a subhuman level is to exonerate them of their acts of terrorism and mass murder - just as animals are…
Andrew SullivanAndrew Sullivan quote #1 I work not only for the OJs, but also the No Js. - In reference to many low income clients he represented.[1]
Johnnie CochranJohnnie Cochran quote #2 The issue which concern all of us as citizens of this country, irrespective of our political beliefs and ethnicity, is this: if we are to forbear all legal pro…
Ratu Joni MadraiwiwiRatu Joni Madraiwiwi quote #2