re: Lawyers: how can anyone with a conscience put work into helping someone like Kohberger?

Not a lawyer, but everyone still has the right to a fair trial.

One of those American freedoms

That is a wonderful exchange! I highly recommend that everyone watch “A Man For All Seasons” in which Paul Scofield plays Sir Thomas More.

St. Thomas More is the Patron Saint of lawyers and there can be no better model.

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Any lawyers chime in, but how could anyone with a conscience put work into helping someone like this?? And how could you put up a defense knowing they are guilty?

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In a situation like that you can try and just focus on defending the judicial process (e.g., making sure the rules of evidence are followed, making sure impartial jurors are selected, vetting prosecutors and witnesses for lying, etc) and let the chips fall where they may. It's still important for our judicial system to work for defense attorneys to do this even in cases where they think or know their client is guilty.

Of all the things the US Government does that's a bit sketchy, ensuring a defendant has adequate representation isn't one that I worry about. Remember that all are presumed innocent, even in a slam dunk case. If we take the right away from one person, the same Ruby Ridge/Waco government won't bat an eye at taking away everyone's.

Y’all obviously have not read my follow up. I posted the question after seeing him on the news and mounting evidence and seeing those 4 kids faces.

Obviously I know he needs a defender and I agree with it. I guess what I should have said is, how difficult would it be to defend someone if it’s pretty obvious they are guilty.

OJ for example

As unsavory as it sounds, even likely murderers deserve representation. "Innocent until proven guilty" is the bedrock of our legal system.

We have sent many innocent people to prison before, and even though it "looks" like he's guilty, we're only getting a bit of the story. We can't just go putting people in jail for life because it looks like they're guilty.

The burden of proof is on the prosecution, and Kohlberger's defense team is there to make sure a citizen isn't screwed over by our legal system.

And in the end, it's all about due process and making sure everything is done by the books. Everyone wants that.

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Somehow seeing his face on the news and those 4 kids faces at the same time just pissed me off.

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This is how women think and make decisions. Be better

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Money makes people do the strangest shite.

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He has to have a competent defense attorney or a conviction will be thrown out on appeal. A defense attorney zealously representing the defendant actually ensures he stays in jail.

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How could anyone defend him and look the families in the eye?

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The first part is their profession, chosen by them. They're their to hold the prosecution accountable and ensure their client gets a fair trial essentially. The second part is not a part of their profession. This isn't a hard concept.

The legal system is already tough and at times corrupt as it is. I speak from experience. I've been lucky enough to have money for a good defense attorney. They're priceless, especially when talking about some of the sentences you can receive. Also, you'd much rather a great DA compared to some public defenders you could possibly be appointed. I've sat next to people with drug charges less than I had but I got a year with 5 years probation and they took fed time. Both of us were guilty, but I had the resources for a damn fine defense attorney and they had a public defender.

Shout-out to Rodney Messina btw.

see Adams defending [some] of the officers/soldiers who fired at the Boston Massacre at their trial.

NOTE: if America is and has always been systematically racist why were we taught the name Crispus Attucks in reference to the Boston Massacre and why is he recognized as the first casualty of the revolutionary war instead of being erased from history?