If a client confesses to committing the crime, can the attorney still represent them?
Answers:
Yes ...the choice would be up to the attorney ... If you tell your attorney that you are GOING to commit a crime,that's "Afore Knowledge" and the attorney is obligated to tell the court ... but if you have already committed the crime , your attorney is governed by Lawyer/ Client Privilege.
Yes, even in a situation where one confesses to a crime, he is entitled to legal representation unless he declines it.
Yes, especially if it is a serious charge, the defendant must have legal representation before the court will even accept his confession.
Yes, the attorney can still represent them. The sticky ethical question comes in if the client only confesses to his attorney, and his client is not convicted. The attorney cannot tell the authorities, since the confession is covered by the attorney-client priviledge. If the attorney DOES tell the authorities, they risk disbarment.
"Earth to mission control, are we there yet?" VERY GOOD QUESTION & would really like an HONEST "deffense" attny to respond. Unfortunately, there is NO such being (see O.J. Simpson):Stick with the "prosecutors"-they are usually right with forensic data, etc.!
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