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Kudos to Public Defender
November 26, 2007
Times-Picayune
Editorial
Re: "Judge slaps public defender with a one-day jail sentence," Page 1, Nov. 20.
Attorney Steve Singer is to be commended for his integrity and courage in choosing to uphold the oath he took when he was sworn to zealously represent his client.
By contrast, Judge Frank Marullo, who found Singer in contempt (and ordered him to serve a day in jail and take an ethics course) shows a woeful, overreaching disdain for the entire judicial process.
Warning to defendants: If you are in Judge Marullo's court and need a public defender, dress down. If you present yourself decently, the judge may rule you prosperous enough to afford a lawyer.
Mr. Singer, in deference to the judge's ruling that his client was ineligible for representation by a public defender, referred the case to the Loyola Law clinic. The clinic accepted the case. Mr. Singer acted precisely as required by the Code of Professional Responsibility, which prohibits attorneys from simply abandoning their clients.
No lawyer, on either side, should be comfortable letting a ruling stand that would encourage judges to act beyond their authority and give short shrift to the right to counsel.
The message to lawyers is even worse: If you follow your oath and do right by your client, be prepared for serious consequences.
Jaclyn McKenney
New Orleans |
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National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
1660 L St., NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 872-8600 • Fax (202) 872-8690 •
assist@nacdl.org
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