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louis c

(8,652 posts)
Fri Mar 23, 2018, 02:58 PM Mar 2018

Question: If No Lawyer Wants to Work for Trump, Will He Get a Public Defender?

Don't laugh. Trump is the worst of all possible clients. First off, he's guilty as sin. But lawyers represent guilty defendants all the time. Trump can't keep his mouth shut. Most lawyers hate that, but some will put up with it. The next two reasons really whittle down the numbers. Trump doesn't take his lawyers' advice and he doesn't pay.

However, the biggest reason of all is that Trump has a tendency to pull everyone down with him and could get an attorney disbarred, or worse yet, incriminated in the same illegal activity.

When you put that all together, it's not far fetched to see that Trump ends up with a court appointed lawyer.

28 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Question: If No Lawyer Wants to Work for Trump, Will He Get a Public Defender? (Original Post) louis c Mar 2018 OP
Better Call Saul! dchill Mar 2018 #1
yeah... like one of those who sleep through their defendant's trials earning them the death penalty hlthe2b Mar 2018 #2
What about that wacky birther lady? awesomerwb1 Mar 2018 #3
Orly Taitz NewJeffCT Mar 2018 #7
It's Not That He Can't Get A Lawyer Me. Mar 2018 #4
I'm not a lawyer NewJeffCT Mar 2018 #6
K Me. Mar 2018 #9
I would advise NewJeffCT Mar 2018 #16
good question NewJeffCT Mar 2018 #5
He already *has* been scraping the bottom of the barrel. SeattleVet Mar 2018 #12
If the trial is impeachment in the Senate, then no ExciteBike66 Mar 2018 #8
Public defenders are for people who can't AFFORD an attorney, so no, he would not. Binkie The Clown Mar 2018 #10
His sister is a federal judge marylandblue Mar 2018 #19
He willl turn it down and cilla4progress Mar 2018 #11
This is a Political game. Wellstone ruled Mar 2018 #13
well, if he can't afford one, one will be appointed for him, barbtries Mar 2018 #14
Gawd, is this a joke? nt procon Mar 2018 #15
It's a bit of tongue in cheek (from OP) louis c Mar 2018 #18
I'd rather take Hitler as a client marylandblue Mar 2018 #20
After reading your opening remark, "Don't laugh," I never procon Mar 2018 #22
Lionel Hutz is available. n/t cloudbase Mar 2018 #17
What? Judge Judy can't handle it? lindysalsagal Mar 2018 #21
Alan Dershowitz?? He is apparently a trumper. madinmaryland Mar 2018 #23
Why Hasn't He Asked HIm? Me. Mar 2018 #28
:-) Wish I knew how to put those funny figures in the Title!!!! LAS14 Mar 2018 #24
Why would he when he can easily defend himself... meadowlander Mar 2018 #25
He wouldn't qualify. Most Jurisdictions that provide PDs require a means test. berni_mccoy Mar 2018 #26
Yes, IF he's accused of a crime in 'civil' courts, elleng Mar 2018 #27

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
2. yeah... like one of those who sleep through their defendant's trials earning them the death penalty
Fri Mar 23, 2018, 03:00 PM
Mar 2018

you know the ones Scalia didn't think were a problem....

Me.

(35,454 posts)
4. It's Not That He Can't Get A Lawyer
Fri Mar 23, 2018, 03:03 PM
Mar 2018

He can't get a good lawyer...a public defender might be the better option.

NewJeffCT

(56,827 posts)
6. I'm not a lawyer
Fri Mar 23, 2018, 03:05 PM
Mar 2018

but, I will be happy to stay at a Holiday Inn Express and then represent Mr Trump.

NewJeffCT

(56,827 posts)
16. I would advise
Fri Mar 23, 2018, 03:40 PM
Mar 2018

that Trump would get huge ratings if he testified for Mueller live on TV like Hillary did for Benghazi. If a woman can do it, certainly Trump could do it as well. I'll just watch from a back room.

NewJeffCT

(56,827 posts)
5. good question
Fri Mar 23, 2018, 03:03 PM
Mar 2018

but, I think Trump has too much pride to accept a public defender.I think he'd scrape the bottom of the barrel for an attorney he can screw out of paying in the future.

ExciteBike66

(2,280 posts)
8. If the trial is impeachment in the Senate, then no
Fri Mar 23, 2018, 03:05 PM
Mar 2018

I don't think Impeachment qualifies as a "criminal prosecution", since the penalty is only removal from office.

After that, in federal court yes he would have right to counsel.

All that said, there will ALWAYS be some criminal lawyer willing to take this most high-profile of cases.

Binkie The Clown

(7,911 posts)
10. Public defenders are for people who can't AFFORD an attorney, so no, he would not.
Fri Mar 23, 2018, 03:12 PM
Mar 2018

On edit: Does he have a Cousin Vinny?

marylandblue

(12,344 posts)
19. His sister is a federal judge
Fri Mar 23, 2018, 03:58 PM
Mar 2018

She could quit her job and take over. But she probably knows him too well to even consider that. Have you notices she never visits, even for Christmas?

 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
13. This is a Political game.
Fri Mar 23, 2018, 03:21 PM
Mar 2018

Who ever ends up defending the Trump Crime Syndicate and loses,most likely will not receive Lobbying and mega Political representation Contracts.

barbtries

(28,702 posts)
14. well, if he can't afford one, one will be appointed for him,
Fri Mar 23, 2018, 03:31 PM
Mar 2018

oh wait - that's when he's finally arrested...
he can represent himself. he doesn't listen to that guy either.

 

louis c

(8,652 posts)
18. It's a bit of tongue in cheek (from OP)
Fri Mar 23, 2018, 03:47 PM
Mar 2018

I know Trump will get a lawyer. He can afford one, so there won't be a "public defender", but Trump will be turned down by more attorneys than accept at a ratio of about 5 to 1.

My point is, what if no attorney wants to defend him? After all, he's a no good piece of shit. I certainly would hold it against any attorney who defends Trump, and I'm of the opinion that the worst criminal in the world deserves adequate counsel.

But I associate Trump with Adolf Hitler, so there's a little less acceptance for him.

procon

(15,805 posts)
22. After reading your opening remark, "Don't laugh," I never
Fri Mar 23, 2018, 04:12 PM
Mar 2018

would have known that you were aiming at humor.

BTAIM... Here's the crucial thing you're overlooking; Trump has a lifelong history of refusing to follow legal advice, so it's not that good lawyers won't work with him, its Trump who won't work with any lawyers worth their salt. Don't worry too much, he'll get exactly the sort of lawyer he deserves.

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