Do You Have the Right to Plead Not Guilty When Your Lawyer Disagrees?

Re:Do You Have the Right to Plead Not Guilty When Your Lawye... by mcguire on Wednesday January 17, 2018 @11:45AM (#16169382)

Perhaps yes, maybe no. Consider another case: the next time you have a head cold, go to your doctor and demand to have your left arm amputated.

Or go to an engineer or architect and ask them to design something manifestly unsafe.

One of the differences between a profession and a customer service job is telling the client "no" if the client is asking for something inappropriate.

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Re:Do You Have the Right to Plead Not Guilty When Your Lawye... by jeffdavis on Wednesday January 17, 2018 @11:47AM (#16169411)

Then say "no", don't say "yes" and do whatever you want.

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Re:Do You Have the Right to Plead Not Guilty When Your Lawye... by Bartweiss on Wednesday January 17, 2018 @02:03PM (#16170704)

The defendant dismissed his first few lawyers, which is what should happen in this case. The suit is over his final lawyer, who rejected his direct instructions, announced his guilt to the court, and then sought clemency on a basis that wasn't even legally available.

This is more reminiscent of the doctor refusing to amputate your arm, and then instead cutting off your little finger while you ask him not to.

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