In a recent discussion amongst criminal-defense lawyers about the murder of the Kaufman County District Attorney, and whether we would represent the person charged with the murder (assuming that anyone ever is—my bet is that the murderers will never get caught, though a patsy may be), one of the brethren predicted that whoever took the case would have her phones tapped; her medical records searched; and whatever else the Texas Rangers could think of done to her, including drugs being planted in her car. His point was that a lawyer should not take this case because it might be the lawyer’s last case.

I was dumbfounded. Still am. I don’t think his predictions are remotely near the truth, but even if they are that should not be sufficient to scare a criminal-defense lawyer off a case.

You don’t become a criminal-defense lawyer to be loved by society, or to please the government.

You do it expecting…no, perversely hoping to make powerful enemies.