Lord Polonius, speaking in Shakespeare's Hamlet, once opined that 'brevity is the soul of wit.' Sometimes, therefore, I just shut up and argue that 'silence is the heart of genius.'
We have all been watching the tv tour of the Illinois Governor, Rod Whateverovich. He's being impeached in Illinois while doing five minute spots with Whoopie Goldberg on 'The View'. He's been tarred and feathered by his own words and deeds.
As an attorney, you stare in disbelief. You say 'Only in America.' You think this guy must be a fool. You are so astonished by his seeming cognitive dissonance, you forget how this case was played out by the prosecutor, how unlevel he made the playing field from day one. You forget until you read this incredibly incisive blog by one of the nation's leading attorneys, Gerry Spence, reminding you that everyone is entitled to a fair trial in a courtroom. It's a bitch slap to the face of complaceny. You read this piece, and you say, 'Damn, I should have said that.' You then kick yourself, and again realize that no matter how old you are, there is much you can still learn.
So you just shut up, and let the smarter guy do the talking. Here then, is a sentry call from a great advocate, to every attorney who cares about justice, fairness, and due process. Read what Gerry Spence has to say:
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