Criminal defendants frequently accuse their lawyers of being too friendly with the prosecutor.
In the defendant‘s mind, a good lawyer is combative at all stages of the case. The prosecutor is the enemy and he or she should be dealt with and spoken to accordingly .
What these defendants fail to recognize is that the vast majority of criminal cases are resolved through plea agreements negotiated by the prosecutor and defense counsel.
Successful negotiations require mutual respect and civil dialog—not hostility and argument.
In fact, lawyers who refuse to compromise and insist on fighting at all times usually get the very worst results for their clients.
There are, of course, times when lawyers must argue vehemently for their client’s best interests. But these moments should only arise after the parties have attempted to resolve matters through amicable negotiations.
Law Office of Justin R. McCarthy 