Blogs
One of my clients went to jail yesterday. It was expected – he understood when he entered his guilty pleas that he would probably be sentenced to jail. But it still came as a dreadful shock, as it invariably does for almost all clients. Somehow he had convinced himself that this sentence he had prepared himself for, would not happen. When it did, his face crumpled in on itself, his body shrank as though he were trying to disappear inside
On the wall in my office is a photograph of Martin Luther King Junior, over the words of one of his quotations: “Our lives begin to end the moment we remain silent about things that matter.” It is a principle I live by – and one I often have to draw to the attention of clients. The criminal justice system can grind slowly. When a client is on strict release conditions, or living with the potentially serious consequences of charges,
I read with pleasure and respect an article this weekend by Edward Greenspan. Mr. Greenspan is a very senior member of the criminal Bar. He most recently defended Conrad Black against charges in the United States. Mr. Black has been highly critical of Mr. Greesnpan, commenting about his work on the case in the verbose and self-serving manner which characterizes Mr. Black. It is not unusual for clients to blame their lawyers when things don’t go their way. You need
Whenever people learn that I am a defence lawyer, they invariably ask me the same question: “how can you sleep at night, knowing that because of you a guilty person might go free?” And my answer is always the same: I’m not kept awake nights at the thought of a guilty person going free. What wakens me at 2:00 and 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. is the thought that an innocent person might be convicted. It’s not my job to determine
Authored by Ruth Roberts I am constantly amazed by the incredible power of small things. How a kind word can heal a heart; how a smile can defuse an argument. And how a nickel can speak volumes about integrity and honesty. In the beautiful Quinte Consolidated Courthouse in Belleville there is a private lounge for the lawyers. It’s a working area, with a telephone and access to the library. It’s a quiet space for lawyers to work, chat to colleagues,
Author: Ruth Roberts It’s been a very long time since I was in law school, and the pearls of wisdom from most of my professors have been lost in the mists of time. But there is one Golden Rule, passed down from generation to generation of criminal lawyers; discussed in the law lounges and coffee shops; tossed back and forth through emails: Know Thy Judge. When we discuss our cases with colleagues, plan our strategy, discuss our options, a crucial
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