Current Events > Isn't our law system innately injust? (paying for lawyers)

(+) Yeah! (+)

Rich people can get the best lawyers available while other people have to get bargain bin ones. How is that remotely fair? Shouldn't both sides get lawyers provided by the government?
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you're sounding like a commie bro

Reis posted...

you're sounding like a commie bro

Shh.... we're not ready to reveal ourselves yet.
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Free market blah blah blah
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Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

Free market blah blah blah

Freedom is just privilege extended, unless enjoyed by one and all
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Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

Free market blah blah blah

We're talking about the law, not consumer products. Like take how big corporations can purposefully sue a startup working on competing tech in order to fuck them over. They know they have no case, but they know all the legal fees will fuck over the start up so they do it anyways.
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When you're right, you're right
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What about situations like Peter Thiel bankrolling Hogan's entire lawsuit against Gawker
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yes its fucked
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It is kinda shitty. But lawyers cost enough already, without government funding pushing the price even higher.
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I guess I've never thought about that. You're right. They should be provided by the government for both parties. But then at that point lawyers would probably become the most bribed profession in America
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It certainly creates unfairness but I think the underlying principle at work is that an individual should be allowed to use any resources at his disposal to make the best case possible for his freedom. America has a history of putting a premium on the value of freedom over just punishment, that why theres the saying better to let a guilty man walk free than an innocent man in prison.
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The government being in charge of lawyers is basically asking for the government to just decide the outcome of any case it chooses in advance
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How about don't break the law then you'll never have to worry about this, k?
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Kazi1212 posted...

America has a history of putting a premium on the value of freedom over just punishment, that why theres the saying better to let a guilty man walk free than an innocent man in prison.

But the cost of legal defense has undoubtedly caused innocent men to land in prison
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SomeLikeItHoth posted...

How about don't break the law then you'll never have to worry about this, k?

You're smarter than this
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SomeLikeItHoth posted...

How about don't break the law then you'll never have to worry about this, k?

that's really idiotic of you to say, but then again it seems everyone on this board calls you a troll, so i supposse its expected.
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Honestly, the problem is less quality than volume.

Paid lawyers often have big firms supporting them, so they have the ability to do a lot of quick paperwork, research, interviews, etc etc.

Public defenders, meanwhile, are too far and few between so they don't get nearly enough time to work with their clients.

And lets not forget immigration courts, where you aren't legally guaranteed a lawyer and somewhere around 70% of clients represent themselves, IIRC.

Antifar posted...

Kazi1212 posted...

America has a history of putting a premium on the value of freedom over just punishment, that why theres the saying better to let a guilty man walk free than an innocent man in prison.

But the cost of legal defense has undoubtedly caused innocent men to land in prison

But are we sure the solution is to have government appointed lawyers for all cases?As others have brought up, surely it can lead to issues of its own, theres opportunity costs for every decision. What country do you know off that has mandatory government appointed lawyers and how fair is their judicial system?
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Free lawyers (aka public defenders) already get paid as much as the typical prosecutor. They both tend to have big work loads, though public defenders usually have it worse.

So yes, both sides (prosecution and defense) get about the same.

Of course defending a client is usually an uphill battle. Prosecutor's job is much easier.
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Kazi1212 posted...

Antifar posted...

Kazi1212 posted...

America has a history of putting a premium on the value of freedom over just punishment, that why theres the saying better to let a guilty man walk free than an innocent man in prison.

But the cost of legal defense has undoubtedly caused innocent men to land in prison

But are we sure the solution is to have government appointed lawyers for all cases?As others have brought up, surely it can lead to issues of its own, theres opportunity costs for every decision. What country do you know off that has mandatory government appointed lawyers and how fair is their judicial system?

What would you suggest?
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I suggest funding more public defenders, for sure. Their workload is insane. They can't possibly mount an effective defense if they have to worry about 10 other cases.
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ChainedRedone posted...

I suggest funding more public defenders, for sure. Their workload is insane. They can't possibly mount an effective defense if they have to worry about 10 other cases.

10? Maybe 10 per day...

Cmon' TC, the American justice system is completely fair! Sometimes the rich do go to jail when they screw over someone who is richer than them.
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