Burglary Defense Case Study

As a defense attorney I am charged with the defense of individuals charged with committing a crime. Also as an attorney I would be obligated to uphold the integrity of the legal profession and to observe the requirements of the American BAR in the defense of the client. In this instance the defendant is on trial for burglary. According to the Maine Criminal Statutes, a person is guilty of burglary is the person enters or surreptitiously remains in a structure knowing that that person is not licensed or privileged to do so, with the intent to commit a crime therein. In private counsel the client confidentially confided in me that he killed three individuals and has buried the bodies near his residence. At this time the police and prosecutor …show more content…
At the time of the break in, no one else was present at the residence, and also the only weapons he had on his person were he tools used to break into the residence, not a deadly or even useful weapon. Without investigating further, I would assume the individual was not capable of committing three murders. On the other hand, if my client had an extensive criminal record, including violence, assaults, and armed burglaries I would need to consider the possibility he has committed three unreported murders. For the sake of this argument we will assume the ladder, and this individual has a lengthy violent criminal record, and potentially did commit these murders. Due to the fact I was charged with defending my client in the court of law I am sworn to protect him against the court as well as the prosecutor. However, in this instance I have a moral obligation to uphold which includes the safety of the public. I understand this may be against a defense attorney’s code of conduct, however I cannot uphold and serve the law if I allow dangerous and deadly crime to go unnoticed. In this instance, I would be willing to jeopardize my career to uphold the law and the safely of the …show more content…
That decision again would be to not keep his statement confidential. Like mentioned this may not be the appropriate legal action, or practical action for my charge, however it would be the correct moral decision and I would answer for it if need be. I could not adequately answer the other response of I decided to keep this dangerous information classified, of if my client was released and killed again. That blood would be on my hands that time. Once making the decision to uphold my moral cause I would contact another member of law enforcement. I do not believe making an anonymous tip would be the right course of action. Personally this would be the easiest option, and would allow me to stay at large. However, I do have a legal responsibility to serve the law therefore I would utilize it to the best of my ability. I believe my first course of action would be to seek counsel myself. I would seek council from either from another defense attorneys or from a