Court Opinion

ID: 9606139
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 02:47:28.118065+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:02:33.190809
License: Public Domain

SUTIN, Judge (specially concurring). I concur. In our democratic form of government, a defendant is presumed to be innocent until he is proven guilty of a criminal offense beyond all reasonable doubt. He/she is entitled to a fair trial even though the evidence establishes guilt beyond all reasonable doubt. A defendant is also entitled to assistance of a good, experienced defense lawyer, one who will put the prosecutor to task. Without research, I think this protection is shocking to the people and the media until one akin to them is involved. However, criminal defense lawyers must be dedicated to this field of practice. If they are not learned in the law and not experienced in criminal defense work, they should not accept employment, and, if appointed, should seek to be excused. To become learned and experienced, a novice should assist good defense lawyers until confidence and ability begin to surge within themselves. Then, criminal defense lawyers must conduct a defense to the best of their ability. A defense attorney should not raise nonsensical issues before trial. In the instant case, it is proper to file a motion to “recant and revoke” statements given by a defendant and taken while under the care of a physician, even though this type of relief sought is unknown to me, PROVIDED, the lawyer has authority or good reasoning to support the motion. But to rely on the “oath taking” section of the Tort Release Act and to appeal from a denial of the motion is puerile. Common sense dictates that legislative intent is absent, but common sense is very uncommon. To seek to transform a protective civil device for a person under the care of a physician into a protective criminal device, absent authority or good reasoning, does not comport with standards required of good defense lawyers. Defendant’s Brief-In-Chief followed the Civil, not the Criminal, Rules of Appellate Procedure. I do stand alone among appellate judges who use the judicial opinion as a vehicle directed to raising the standards of trial and appellate practice among members of the Bar. Many such opinions have been written and published. A large number have been written as “Correspondence Opinions” in response to Memorandum Opinions. This practice does provoke adverse comment among lawyers. But a crisis now exists in the United States with reference to competent trial and appellate lawyers, both civil and criminal, and appellate judges should not hesitate to accept their share of the burden in eradicating this plague.