Profiting from death
Submitted by James on Sun, 01/27/2008 - 4:00pm
It was many years ago when trial lawyer Dave Rudolf explained to me the importance of excellent representation for defendants charged with horrific crimes. Rudolf has taken on more than his share of those defendants, and the case he made for doing so is compelling. Not only is the right to defense clearly laid out in law, it is also morally correct. A happy coincidence.
Though I have big reservations about giving corporations the same rights we give individuals, I nonetheless accept that businesses charged with horrific crimes deserve representation too. It's the American way.
Which brings us to the relationships between two North Carolina companies, Reynolds American and Blackwater, and one of our state's leading law firms.
There's no doubt in my mind that Blackwater and Reynolds American have committed horrific crimes against humanity. As the companies strive to defend themselves against whatever charges they may face, they deserve best representation money can buy. To the many lawyers who sign on for those ugly tasks, my hat's off. God bless them for filling their role in our legal system.
But relationships between companies and law firms don't start and end in criminal court. They extend in a symbiotic swirl that goes all the way back to the the beginning of business. Law firms help companies in more ways than you can count: incorporation, structuring, contract development, negotiations, tax planning, succession planning, and more. The relationships even extend into business development.
As companies seek to buy and sell from one another, law firms are often the grease that smooths the skids. When the skids being greased stretch between companies and governments, the applicable term of art is "lobbying."
Law firms that choose to represent businesses and their executives in criminal litigation should be granted every benefit of the doubt. They are doing their duty for god and country. Law firms that choose to represent merchants of death taking taxpayer money - companies like Blackwater and Reynolds American - should be judged by the company they keep.
- James's blog
- 784 reads
You nailed it.
People confuse the right to representation in a criminal or civil matter with flat-out lobbying.
Of course, there is a right to lobby, or it wouldn't be such big business in Raleigh or Washington.
I commend attorneys who take on clients accused of horrific crimes; lawyers who defend folks charged with death penalty cases are heroes in my book. Those lawyers are there to see that their client gets a fair trial, and is neither used nor abused by the system.
Attorneys who agree to act as PR firms for paramilitary groups? Well, hell. There's free speech in this country, right? Then I say they need to turn in their law license and go for PR all the way, because I wouldn't trust them in court as far as I could throw them.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Conflict of interest
To me, it is a blatant conflict of interest when attorneys engage in full blown lobbying. Lobbying, at its core is sugestive and the law is (or should be) about the hard facts.
No one on earth has more to gain from war
than the paramilitary groups like Blackwater who seek Federal contracts for a service which is specific to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The longer and more protracted the wars, the more money they make and the more entrenched they become within the DOD planning and strategic mindset.
It is in their greatest Corporate interest to provoke, encourage, and lobby for greater American participation in war. It is wrong to allow this to continue.
Marshall Adame
OT, a little bit
Marshall, I have to tell you, you did an amazing job yesterday at the SEC meeting. You spoke with so much authenticity and so much authority about the war and about Iraq in general. You seriously reached out and etched your name into the minds of people who had never heard of you before, my friend.
I just had to take the opportunity to tell you that. Hope it wasn't inappropriate in this thread. Keep it up. You can win!
I choose to be inspired.
"They took all the trees and put them in a tree museum Then they charged the people a dollar 'n a half just to see 'em. Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone? They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."
Marshall
Did you know that Blackwater has been involved in training police departments, including the police department in Jacksonville?
I found this information when I visited Blackwater Watch.
Hi James. Yes I was aware of that Blackwater info.
They had been conducting the Police Training business long before they entered the Iraq/Afghanistan business and grew to what they are today. Sorry I missed you at the SEC. It was a real good time.
Marshall Adame
Thank you for saying that Leslie
Yesterday was a really good day. I met so many great people and I am glad I went.
Marshall Adame
Speaking of campaign contributions
I wonder how many of our favorite candidates have received contributions from Blackwater?
And by the way, while I have great personal respect for Anglico and I think Linda is terrific (and hope to meet you soon), I do take exception to the suggestion that my opinion regarding Womble Carlyle's representation of Blackwater is a matter of "confusion."
No, I'm not confused. I have a pretty clear understanding of the difference between legal representation in a courtroom (whether civil or criminal) and lobbying at the General Assembly. I am not confused about the principles involved nor am I confused about what is at stake in either case.
I do strongly disagree with Anglico and with you, Linda, on this issue. I don't mind you thinking me contrary or stubborn, but I'm not confused.
I have a hunch that Dellinger, who probably hasn't found the opportunity to answer my question, is glad to distance himself from Blackwater's lobbying firm as long as the conversation is about Blackwater, but I don't think he will criticize Womble Carlyle for representing Blackwater. I suspect most lawyers wouldn't.
I also suspect Beverly Perdue isn't turning any money down from Womble Carlyle, and I suspect she won't be criticizing them for representing Blackwater, either.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
I sit corrected.
I respect your opinion, and I didn't mean to imply that you, personally were confused. My apologies.
Personally, I see a blurring of the lines of the ethics when it comes to using law firms as PR firms, but it's a free country, and they can do what they want, say what they want.
So can I, so can you. We just disagree on this. I'm okay with that.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
I'm sittin' here my own self
Thank you, Linda. And all I can say to "I sit corrected," is that I really do look forward to sitting (or standing) with you in the near future. I respect your thoughts, I enjoy the way you express them, and I never miss one of your posts!
my best,
Brunette
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing
-Edmund Burke
right backatcha
I am glad you're here, and I think you add a lot to the conversation and discussion here. I'm looking forward to making your acquaintance.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi