A "Lincoln the Lawyer" Story

[LincolnMan]

From Words Lincoln Lived By by Gene Griessman:

In Lincoln's day, just as today, lawyers handled the cases of guilty clients-because-of course, under the adversarial system of a democracy, even a guilty person is entitled to the best defense possible. But what is unethical is being dishonest while defending a client. Lincoln was emphatic on this point: "Resolve to be honest at all events," he stated. "If, in your own judgment, you cannot be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer. Choose some other occupation, rather than one in the choosing of which you do, in advance, consent to be a knave."