Recall a recent election ballot: Did you know the names or positions of the judges on it? Did many of them run unopposed?
Citizens elect judges and district attorneys. Those individuals have political party affiliations and run-on specific platforms, and thus are answerable to the electorate. Meanwhile, defense attorneys for offenders with less means are often appointed, having no prior relationship or knowledge with a client. Imagine being the accused in a complicated case and feeling like your constitutionally guaranteed advocate may seem to be “punching a ticket” with your case. Now, imagine that you are a citizen called to jury duty. Or imagine that you were witness to a crime but refuse to testify. What is your motivation for engaging with the judicial system?
In this Discussion, you examine the role of ethical conduct from many perspectives, including the one perspective everyone shares, even if they work in the criminal justice system: the citizen.