Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-06-12
DISHONEST LAWY Frs.
Sensible aud Timely Remarks on the
Ethics of Modern Legal Practice.

Sensible aud Timely Remarks on the
Ethics of Modern Legal Practice,
The law has been many times called
noble profession, and its character
and aims have been much exalted,
chiefly by lawyers. But it has been so
much used 10 promote ignoble ends
that it can hardly claim to stand higher
in these days than other pursuits of
sinful man. A scrupulous lawyer may
be justified in defending a case that he
knows to be bad or criminal that he
is sure is GU lty, for exact justice is not
to be attained bv one-sded trial. An
accused person is entitled to the pro-
tect on of all his rights and to the Lest
defense his case admits of. But if a
| LAWYER resorts to tricks and crafty de-
vices to secure for his cl ent more than
his right he ceases to be scrupulous but
/ that has almost ceased to be mater OF
ethical criticism.
/ In these latter times, however, the
/ legal profess on has receive d some of its
! highest reward for consenting to pro-
4 mote absolute violations of law and
/ serious infractjons of private and public
r ght. OF the ethical character of that
k nd of practice there can be no doubt.
and it is deplorable fact that the
standard of judgment has been so de-
moralized that it is not at once stamped
bv the profession as dishonorabe The
Growth of corporations and their con-
troll of large material interests have had
much to do with the degradation of legal
practice. The evils of stock watering,
of railroad wrecking, of combinations
to drfraud the innocent and unwary and
to enrich the unscrupulous and crafty,
have grown up under the guidance
and HELM of learned and as
tute LAWYERS who stand high
in the profession Legislation in
the interest of rich and powerful com
binat ons and in derogation of the in
terests of the public and the rights of
the people has been secured by the help
of able counsel and push no ATTORNEYS.
who had no regard for any considera-
ton but their own profit; and existing
laws have been successfully evaded or
directly violated by the same assistance.
In the debauchine of Legislatures by
bribery to secure advantages to un-
scrupulous schemers the lobby" has
been LARGELY msde up of LAWYERS or mas
had the benefit of their direction. One
of the most startling features of the
colossal corruption by which franchise
10 run a ra lroad through the most i'm
por,ant thorouchfare on this continent
was obtained is the indication that the
whole scheme was devised dire ted and
carried out under the advice and guild
ance of LAWYERS pposed 10 be reputa-
BILE. who were induced by LARGE rewards
to perform a service involving violation
of law, corruption of the public service
and the promotion of crime.
If it is true that this was done in the
manner so strongly. ind Gated by circum-
stances and by evidence. the LAWYERS
concerned in it ought no longer t. be
REGARDED as reputable. They have d s.
graced the ..noble profession, and the
profession as well as other people OUGHT
10 take some notice of it. If it wishes
to ma n,ain any standard whatever of
ethics or morals in the practice of law
] it should take occasion to declare such
standard and do something for its
maintenance. Thsr, are associations
which nom nallv have been formed with
view to keep NO I'D such a standard
and of making it a hiph one, 1t must
be adm tied that they have done little 10
carry out that purpose. but they have
not vet given up their pretensions. Unless
thew take some stand in regard to the
= corrupt and unscrupulous proceeding
r in which lawyers take leading part
{. they m ght as we'll admit that there is
really no ethical standard of legal prac.