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lokesh kote
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Why is Ram Jethmalani celebrated so much when he clearly bats for the wrong people mostly?
Ram Jethmalani is arguably the best criminal lawyer in the country. The man has been part of legendary cases that have shaped our legal history. His skills as a trial lawyer are enviable, and is one of the very best at cross-examination of witnesses.
As a criminal lawyer myself, I admire Ram Jethmalani, and I respect him for the fact that he represents all kind of clients, regardless of his political affiliations and social background. He has argued cases for people whose political ideology is vastly different from his own, and he has represented people from tremendously different social backgrounds.
A criminal lawyer should never turn down a brief, unless he is personally interested in a matter (for example, if the victim or the accused is of his family or otherwise connected to him). As an advocate, it is your duty to represent anyone who is willing and able to pay your fees. You cannot discriminate on the basis of who your client is, and it is patently unethical to refuse a brief on the ground that the crime is of a heinous nature. You are a lawyer, not a judge...it is not your prerogative to decide whether a person is culpable or not.
Ram Jethmalani lives by this credo, as do I and several other criminal lawyers. It is something to be proud of, and it is a shame that more people don't understand that.
Edit:- since several people have questioned me on this in comments, I must add something to my answer.
Criminal defence lawyers are the cornerstone of the justice system. It is the presence of lawyers like Ram Jethmalani that we can claim to be a country governed by rule of law. It is because of this, we can say with confidence that everyone gets a fair trial... and it is what separates us from barbaric systems with kangaroo courts. Today, the state has to be sure of its case before starting prosecution because they know lawyers in defence will challenge them. It is this which prevents our system from becoming a tyrannical one.