Essay/Term paper: Greenspan-the case for the defense

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Law

Greenspan - The Case for the Defense

My fascination with the Judicial System Structure of todays society was furthered
and strengthened after reading and analyzing the works of Edward Greenspan. The
superbly written biography recollecting past cases and important events in Greenspan"s
life allowed myself, the reader, to learn more about Jurisprudence and the Criminal Code.
The entire casebook revolves around several main themes including the balance of Positive
and Natural influences in the courtroom, whether a lawyer"s conscience intervenes with
his duty as a counsellor, and the alarming rate of perjury occuring in front of the juries. To
be more concise and clear to the point, Greenspan"s book is a diary of controversial and
beneficial issues which have hovered around our criminal courts and will continue to
plague and pester them for years to come. By observing and understanding certain issues
presented in this book, I was able to comprehend what type of person Greenspan is, what
he believes in, what he represents and what he would do for his profession.
The wheels of jurisprudence are always turning, and I came to realise how
Greenspan worked and bargained for his status in the country to be solidifed. this book
also flourished with innovative situations pertaining to the most diversified of criminal
charges, to the most uncanny regions of law ever dealt. It was this thorough look at
Greenspan"s life which impressed me the most. It was quite clear that after the fourth
page, I came upon the conclusion that this casebook would create a most influential
reaction to anyone who had displayed any interest towards our Law system in general.
In Part One of the novel, No Little Clients, presents the reader with the author"s
proposed thesis. His ambition is to defend innocent people accused of crimes. Whether
they are innocent or guilty without being proven guilty is irrelevant to Mr. Greenspan. A
lawyer"s conscience must not be his deciding factor when advising or counselling a client.
This viewpoint is elaborated in Part Two (Not Above The Fray) and explained frivolously
by Greenspan himself. Throughout the entire novel, the theme bends and curves itself
around different and unavoidable situations, but remains its original meaning that no one is
guilty until proven so. Greenspan refers to this phrase countless times and explains to the
reader that he will not allow his moral beliefs to conflict with the path of justice (delicately
and persuasively explained by both Greenspan and the co-author, George Jonas in Parts
Four, Five, and Six of the novel). Chapter 13, Playing God, emphatically displays
Greenspan"s concern with the treatment of his clients and the decision to push the client
until he can make a decision that is in favour with the lawyer himself. the significance of
this chapter is that the reader detects the amount of responsibility and endurance is
required in order to become a successful pawn of the judicial system. At this point
Greenspan"s thesis huddles itself around the principle of being a "Pawn of the System" and
only serving the system without prejudice and socialistic conflicts.
The authors begin their novel with several different themes which branch out and
eventually combine. Walking The High Wire is an excellent chapter which focuses on the
effects of intended falsehoods employed by the prosecution.