As a practicing Boston lawyer and founder of the earliest Boston bar association, John Adams defended British troops accused of the murder of patriots at the Boston Massacre. Six of those soldiers and their captain were acquitted. Though he knew he would incur a clamor and popular suspicions and prejudices, Adams went on, of course, to become our second president. He later described the case as “one of the best pieces of service I ever rendered my country.”
Today, many members of our associations zealously advocate for the defense, often on a pro bono basis. They do so proudly, and without concern for the regard in which their client may be held by the press or public. We owe them our thanks, not our scorn, and certainly not a disqualification from public service.
(Sorry if this has been posted already, I tried searching through all the user posts but haven’t seen all of today’s comments)
