Ethical Issues In Criminal Defense

When it comes to criminal defense in the United States, it can be a very controversial topic. Regardless if the case is something as minor as a traffic ticket dispute, or something major like the Michael Jackson trial. Ethical issues are relevant in all different types of cases. Every case varies depending on the evidence presented to the court. There is a very fine line between being accused of something and flat out being guilty given the circumstances. For example, the Boston bomber was seen very clearly on a security camera planting a bomb that would eventually go on to kill and injure many people. His defense in court was leaning more towards getting out of the death penalty rather than defending his innocence. On the other hand, an accusation
Even though many already believed he was innocent prior to the investigation, the investigation proceeded for many months. The charges would eventually be dropped due to a lack of evidence and the accuser refusing to cooperate with the investigators. However, most cases are not so black and white. In the 1994 O.J. Simpson murder trial, ethical issues were obvious for not only the defense of O.J. Simpson, but for the verdict as well. Although a substantial amount of hard evidence was presented to the jury, he was eventually found not guilty. Racial tension during that time was a possible solution to why he was inevitably acquitted. It also could’ve been the fact that Mr. Simpson had a relatively strong defense team. But was the defense of O.J. Simpson considered ethical? Did the defense lead by Johnnie Cochran truly believe he was innocent or could they have defended him because of racial tensions during that time period? In this paper, I will discuss the ethical issues surrounding the O.J. Simpson trial, as well as apply the three ethical theories to the verdict given by the
Simpson’s initial alibi was somewhat questionable by authorities. He claimed to have been practicing his golf swings during the time of the murders. He had caught a flight to chicago that same night. According to reports, he did not have much of a reaction after being told about the murders. Sources say he smashed a glass in anger, to which he cut his hand. After flying back to Los Angeles, he was questioned by authorities but was eventually released. Upon hearing the charges, Mr. Simpson opted to flee instead of turning himself in. He eventually led the LAPD on the infamous car chase through Los Angeles. After giving up to authorities, the officers found various items from a makeup store, fake goatee, and a mustache. Although he claimed to not be running, the clues presented seemed to discredit that. Also during the trial, Nicole Brown’s sister Denise Brown testified stating that Mr. Simpson was very abusive towards Mrs Simpson prior to the murders. This alone could’ve very easily given off the wrong impression to an attorney and jury alike. A violent past and an attempt to flee can initially be seen as red flags leading up to a prosecution. This however, was not the case. The jury consisting of nine African Americans, one Hispanic, and two Caucasians, took only four hours to decide Mr. Simpson’s fate. The verdict was not guilty for both murders. O.J. Simpson’s defense “Dream” team, had convinced the jury that his guilt could not be proven “beyond a reasonable doubt”.