Can a Christian Be a Crimnal Defense Attorney?



I wrote earlier that i had to give a devotional in my Criminal Pre-Trial procedure class the other night. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to do that, and when the opportunity arrises, I usually tie the devotional into the class subject. It seemed logical to explore the Biblical position on representing criminal defendants.



I know its a concern for employer’s when they see their prosepective employees are devout Christians. Issues arise in how one’s religious beliefs could affect proceedings in family and criminal matters especially, but zealous advocacy in general. One thing I think Regent often does not do well is explain to its students the intricacies of dealing with these matters.



The first crime recorded in the Bible was, of course, when Cain slew Abel. God do not permit anyone to harm Abel for the crime. Instead, he banished Cain, and gave him a mark to identify him. Genesis says that anyone who encountered Cain and killed him would be subject to God’s vengeance sevenfold. God had not yet ordained government to punish criminals.



When he later established the nation of Israel, God did set down the Mosaic Law. In doing so, He ordained government to punish various crimes, and—it should be noted—allowed for the death penalty for some.



Romans 13 establishes that Christians should respect a government as having authority to maintain order in a sinful world. (Let’s save some of the more pointed questions, such as Nazi Germany, for another ime.)



So, having established both above points, the question remains whether one can advocate a criminal defendant’s case as a Christian. I believe the answer is yes.



In Genesis18: 16-19, God told Abraham He was about to destroy Sodom for its wickedness. Abraham, knowing the city dwellers were evil, advocated them notheless.



“Lord, its seems togh to annihilate an entire city. What if there are fifty righteous men in Sodom?” God agrees if there are fifty righteous men in Sodom, he will spare the city.



“Well, Lord,” Abraham continued, “What if there are only forty-five righteous men? Surely you wouldn’t destroy a whole city for lack of five righteous men.”



God agrees again, and Abraham continues to talk God down to ten righteous men. Abraham was serving as a zealous advocate for men he knew were probably guilty. As it turns out, they were. The angels God sent into the city could not find ten righteous men, and the city was destroyed, minus Lot and his family--although his wife didn’t quite make it intact, but that’s another story, as well.



Abraham went before God to plead for guilty men, therefore it seems like a Christian calling to do the same.