According to the American Bar Association there are currently 1,116,967 lawyers practicing in the United States. That is approximately one for every 300 people. The basic purpose of a defense lawyer is to protect the rights of their clients because of the history of unfair justice. TV and Movies sometimes portray a defense lawyer who knows his client is guilty as being a cohort in crime with the guilty criminals they represent. In real life though, if a client admits his guilt to his lawyer, a virtuous lawyer might advise his client to admit their guilt and make a deal with prosecutors to lessen their sentence, or decide not to represent them. However, not all lawyers or anyone else for that matter are virtuous when large monetary incentives are involved.
I surmised in the following novel excerpts how King Solomon explained to the Queen of Sheba his remedy to dissuade a lawyer wanting to represent a person as being innocent for monetary reasons while knowing he was guilty. The novel is a contemporary application of a story form to promote understanding of proverbs and ancient wise sayings in relation to our modern times.
“You may speak for him, but know this. If he is found guilty, you will be punished same as him. Maybe you should think again about your fee. Because if you twist words to benefit yourself and attempt to confuse the issues of a murderous act, you will have allied yourself with the act and incur the same blame as the guilty party. I suggest you now think about this, because if you lose your defense, the fee will be of no value to you if you become a fool sentenced to death alongside a murderer.” Better a poor man whose conduct is blameless, than a man of twisted speech who is a fool. (Proverb 19:1)
The man thought for only a moment before he begged to excuse himself from speaking in defense of the accused.
Excerpt
“Solomon, please explain your reasoning why you would punish both the carpenter and the speaker he hired to help defend him if you judged the carpenter guilty?”
“Bilqis, it was because I have no faith in any person who will not speak up for his cause against his neighbor. Neither do I have faith in anyone who will reveal a friend or neighbor’s confidences to stir up controversy with tale bearing to destroy reputations. I believe all confrontations should be direct and honorable without cowardly maneuvers to use other people as cat’s paws upon the backs of each other.” Fight your own case with your neighbor, and do not reveal another’s confidences. (Proverb 25:9)
“A court of justice must only be a last resort or we will have armies of judges and speakers for a fee that will stretch out or distort facts to dispute an issue for months or years at a time. We use lots to end a dispute when there is no other recourse to litigation between the rich and powerful that have the means to draw out legal matters for the pleasure of the taste of victory.” The lot puts an end to controversy, and separates powerful contestants. (Proverb 18:18)
“The carpenter was capable to speak for himself. He had no impairment that made him weak or defenseless. He had no need to employ someone to speak for him other than to shield himself from his guilt. A rich man will employ the most capable of speakers on his behalf and this becomes an injustice to a poor man that cannot afford a similar speaker.”
“No one should be tortured or intimidated to confess a crime they did not commit. However, they should speak for themselves to settle their disputes. If one party is gullible, a prudent judge should be shrewd enough to oversee their well-being and defend their interests during a proceeding.” An untutored youth believes everything, but a shrewd man picks his step. (Proverb 14:15)
Source:
As A Lily Among Thorns – A Story of King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, and the Goddess of Wisdom by Rudy U Martinka
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