Accomplice Quote by Ambrose Bierce
“ACCOMPLICE, n. One associated with another in a crime, having guilty knowledge and complicity, as an attorney who defends a criminal, knowing him guilty. This view of the attorney's position in the matter has not hitherto commanded the assent of attorneys, no one having offered them a fee for assenting.”
About This Quote
Attorneys who knowingly defend guilty clients act as accomplices, sharing culpability.
In simple terms: Defending a guilty person implicates the lawyer.
Key Takeaway
Consider ethical limits of legal defense.
Themes
ethics
law
complicity
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- courtroom defense
- law firm policy
- public perception
Key Concepts
legal responsibility
morality
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it ever just to defend the guilty?
- What safeguards exist?
A Different Perspective
Legal duty may conflict with personal morals.
