Yeah, I lost court cases and misdemeanor juries, but of felony jury trials I was successful 105 of 106 times.
Vincent BugliosiRead
I start out with the assumption that a lawyer in a criminal case is going to be incompetent - substantially so. I find my assumption to be rarely wrong. Yet society starts out with the very opposite assumption.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses skepticism regarding the competence of criminal lawyers, contrasting this with society's usual trust in their abilities.
Vincent Bugliosi's quote highlights a profound distrust in the competence of criminal defense lawyers. He begins with the assumption that these legal professionals are significantly lacking in skill, which he finds to be a frequent reality. This perspective starkly contrasts with the general public's tendency to assume that lawyers, particularly in criminal cases, are competent and capable, suggesting a disconnect between societal beliefs and individual experiences in the legal system.
Themes
LawyerCompetenceCriminalJusticeSocietyAssumption
In practice
Example use cases
During a legal seminar, one might use this quote to discuss public perceptions of lawyers.
More from Vincent Bugliosi
All quotes βFor a lawyer to do less than his utmost is, I strongly feel, a betrayal of his client. Though in criminal trials one tends to focus on the defense attorney and his client the accused, the prosecutor is also a lawyer, and he too has a client: the People. And the People are equally entitled to their day in court, to a fair and impartial trial, and to justice.
Vincent BugliosiRead
If there is one thing that I take pride in, it is the fact that I never, ever make a charge without offering a substantial amount of support for it. You may ultimately end up not agreeing with me, but you will have to concede that I offered much evidence in support of my position, something that people frequently do not do.
Vincent BugliosiRead
As a trial lawyer in front of a jury and an author of true-crime books, credibility has always meant everything to me. My only master and my only mistress are the facts and objectivity. I have no others.
Vincent BugliosiRead
Contrary to common belief, the presumption of innocence applies only inside a courtroom. It has no applicability elsewhere, although the media do not seem to be aware of this.
Vincent BugliosiRead
Waiting for the conspiracy theorists to tell the truth is a little like leaving the front-porch light on for Jimmy Hoffa.
Vincent BugliosiRead
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