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If you're a prosecutor, and you believe the defendant is…

“If you're a prosecutor, and you believe the defendant is guilty, you only talk about ultimate truth, but not intermediate truth. If you're the defense attorney, you care deeply about intermediate truth, but you tend to neglect ultimate truth.” quote by Alan Dershowitz
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“If you're a prosecutor, and you believe the defendant is guilty, you only talk about ultimate truth, but not intermediate truth. If you're the defense attorney, you care deeply about intermediate truth, but you tend to neglect ultimate truth.”

Alan Dershowitz

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Prosecutors focus on ultimate truth, defense on intermediate truth, creating a tension between facts and legal strategy.

In simple terms: Prosecutors seek ultimate truth; defense seeks intermediate truth.

Key Takeaway

Balance truth levels in law.

Themes

justice truth legal strategy

Mood

analytical critical

Type

legal philosophical

When to use this quote

  • courtroom
  • policy making
  • public discourse

Key Concepts

epistemology advocacy

Questions to Reflect On

  • How should lawyers balance truth layers?
  • What risks arise from ignoring ultimate truth?
A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on one truth can skew justice.

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