Accused Quote by John Adams
“A lawyer once told a jury that the person his client stood accused of having killed was about to walk through the courtroom door. When the jurors looked startled, the lawyer asserted that if those jurors had wondered, even for one second that the victim might appear, that belief constituted enough reasonable doubt for them to find his client innocent.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Courtroom argument, date unknown
The lawyer argues that any fleeting doubt about the victim’s presence creates sufficient reasonable doubt to acquit his client.
In simple terms: Even a brief doubt can be enough for innocence.
Key Takeaway
Use doubt to protect the accused.
Themes
law
doubt
justice
Mood
tense
strategic
Type
legal
defensive
When to use this quote
- criminal trial
- jury deliberation
- defense tactics
Key Concepts
reasonable doubt
legal strategy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does fleeting doubt affect jury decisions?
- Can doubt be manufactured ethically?
A Different Perspective
If the doubt is not genuine, the argument fails.
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