Why We Practice Criminal Law

A frequently asked question from my family, friends, and colleagues is "Why do you practice criminal law?" Why are you a defender of the people instead of a defender of the government?

Here is our answer:

Because we believe that whether you are rich or poor or middle class you deserve a fair chance in court.

Because we believe that the biggest threat to our liberty and our freedoms comes not from an enemy from afar but from those who would sacrifice our freedoms in the name of order.

Because we believe that a person should not be judged solely by the worst thing they have ever done.

Because we believe that compassion is a sign of a society’s strength and is not a sign of weakness.

Because we believe in our system of justice, that although it has its weaknesses and problems, is the system which honors the dignity of the individual.

Because we are liberals, liberals who believes that compassion and mercy are not signs of a weak society but of a great one.

Because we are conservative, conservatives who believe that our civil rights and our constitutional freedoms are not something to be weakened and sold off in the tough times.

Because we are irrelevant and rude and question everything.

Because we feel sadness for the victims of crime, but believe that reconciliation and restoration should be a part of helping a victim and not just anger.

Because we feel sadness for our clients who were victims of tragedy well before they ever committed a crime.

Because we don’t think its right to lock up a 14 yr old in an adult prison.

Because we don’t think its right to lock up mexican nationals without due process of law for the crime of entering our country in search of work.

Because we believe that mercy has a place in our judicial system.

Because we do not believe that the solution to violence is to inflict violence.

Because we do not believe that there is room for cruelty in our system of justice.

Because we believe our constitution is not just some words to be altered when the winds of change demand but a set of guiding principles of a great nation.

Because we believe that all of us are equal in the eyes of the law no matter our color, religion, gender, sexual preference or political belief.

Because we believe that acceptance and not mere tolerance is the goal of an enlightened society.

Because we like to hear ourselves speak and don’t know when to shut up.

Because we will not tolerate 1 out every 19 african american men in this country being locked up.

Because we believe the government should not be allowed to seize money and property to fill their coffers in the name of regulating public nuisances.

Not because we do not believe punishment is ever appropriate, but because we believe punishment should be our last resort and not our first.

Because we believe in victims rights but believe that the most under represented faction in our country is the victims of over imprisonment, the children without fathers, the men without futures, the women without hope or help.

Because we believe there actually should be a prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

Because we think it is cruel to inject another human being with poison that kills them.

Because we think it is cruel to label someone a felon merely because they are addicted to drugs. We are criminal defense lawyers because we believe it is cruel to treat children the same as adults.

Because we believe that sentencing should not be the application of a mathematical equation but should have room for compassion and to take into account the unique characteristics of the human before the court.

Because we don’t like bullies whether they be in gang colors, carry a law license or wear a black robe.

Because we believe justice should be tempered with mercy.

Because we love our country and would rather work on building and changing it rather then tearing it down.

Because we get to spend time with criminal defense lawyers who cry over their clients problems and feel their pain.

Most of all because we have hope.

Hope that our clients can change,
Hope that we can leave our world better for our children,
Hope that anger can be dissipated with love and compassion,
Hope for the day when justice gives no quarter to cruelty,
Hope for a day when peacemakers and not preachers of anger are our leaders.

For a free consultation with Rosenthal & Heymann, LLC call 303-825-2223 or contact the firm online.