Column About Lawyer Lauded

* Columnist Jerry Hicks is a fan of attorney Julian Bailey (“A Murderer’s Pal? No, Just His Lawyer,” May 4). I guess you can call me a fan of Jerry Hicks.

That’s because his article presented an honest glimpse into the real world of a criminal defense attorney, something not seen in a good while.

The trashing of attorneys, in particular criminal defense attorneys, has been all too prevalent in the wake of O.J., Menendez, et al. Not surprisingly, much of the public seems to buy into the notion that all criminal defense attorneys are rotten to the core. But in my own experience as a relatively new lawyer, I’ve found the opposite to be true. I chose to practice in the area of criminal defense partly because, like Bailey, I “grew up cheering for the underdog,” but also because the criminal defense community includes some of the most honorable people I have ever known.

As a law student, while clerking in a criminal court, I was fortunate to see Bailey at work. In fact, it was when he was first appointed to defend Edward Patrick Morgan. Like Hicks, I was struck by the sight of Bailey “chatting with [Morgan] as if they were pals.” Morgan stood accused of an especially brutal murder, and here was his attorney seated next to him, looking as though he were discussing NFL scores with a friend. That sight brought home to me the significance of the phrase, “innocent until proven guilty.” It forced me to see Morgan as a human being. I remember thinking that was the way I would someday hope to relate to my own clients.

Bravo to Bailey for his courage in the courtroom and for his ability to see the good in everyone. And many thanks to Jerry Hicks for an outstanding article.

DONNA L. ORTLIEB

Tustin