Today is the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is designated Human Rights Day. I believe, however, that we should declare every day to be Human Rights Day.
Everyday in courtrooms around the world, dedicated members of the criminal defense bar fight to protect our rights. It doesn't matter if the lawyer is in Europe, Asia, Mexico or Houston; it doesn't matter if you've never committed or been charged with a crime - our rights are on the line everyday.
When an attorney asks that the confession of an alleged murderer be suppressed because of police interrogation tactics, when an attorney seeks to have evidence in a dope case suppressed because of a 4th amendent violation, when an attorney seeks to reduce the bail asked of his client accused of peddling kiddie porn - our rights are being defended.
I'm asked often how I can defend people accused of serious crimes and I answer that I'm not defending a crime, I'm defending the Constitution.
Whether it's the attorney arguing a case before the Supreme Court, the attorney arguing before a state court of appeals, the attorney writing the appellate brief or the attorney who stood up and preserved error at trial, they are fighting for our rights everyday.
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