As criminal defense attorneys, we are often asked how we can live with what we do. Behind that question lies an unfounded assumption: that every person accused of a crime is guilty, bad, or both. But this thinking contradicts one of the most basic tenets of the American criminal justice system—every person accused is innocent until proven guilty, and every person has the right to representation in court.

Defense attorneys are just one cog in a larger system that includes judges, prosecutors, police, legislators, witnesses, service providers, and the accused. Each serves as a check on the others. One of our most important roles is to ensure that every other participant plays their part ethically and honestly. Likewise, attorneys themselves are bound by strict ethical and professional standards, with a duty to expose misconduct.

History shows why these safeguards matter. The legacy of Jon Burge of the Chicago Police Department is one example: widespread torture and abuse during interrogations led to false confessions and wrongful convictions. More recently, The Chicago Tribune reported that four men in Lake County spent a combined 60 years in prison despite forensic evidence suggesting their innocence (read more here).

It is easy to dismiss the rights of those accused of crimes, especially heinous ones. But doing so creates a slippery slope—who gets to decide who deserves a defense and who does not? The four men exonerated in Lake County were accused of gruesome crimes, yet they were innocent. Their cases prove why the system must apply equally to all.

When the accused is someone you know and care about, the importance of defense becomes clear. Most people charged with crimes are not hardened criminals; they are ordinary people who may have made mistakes or been wrongly accused. The courts regularly review and rule on the actions of every part of the system, and those rulings apply universally—to the good, the bad, and the misunderstood.

The rights we protect belong to everyone. Defense attorneys do not just defend individuals—they defend the integrity of the entire justice system, ensuring that constitutional rights remain intact for you, your family, and your community.

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