Not quite jury duty but this story did strike a chord.<p>I&#x27;m someone who strongly believes, in theory anyway, in the presumption of innocence and that everyone is entitled to a strong defense. A prosecutor should have to earn a conviction. However I also feel strongly that perpetrators of some crimes, upon conviction, should face harsh punishments.<p>Earlier this week, we got a message from a defense attorney inquiring about our services to assist with a criminal case. There were no other details left, so we googled the attorney and found that this attorney is involved in a very high-profile criminal case defending someone accused of an <i>extremely</i> heinous crime. It&#x27;s a Law and Order-type crime, and it happens to be in one of the category crimes that I find to be particularly egregious.<p>I&#x27;m torn. The part of me that believes in the right to a strong defense wants to assist, not necessarily because I support the defendant, but because the prosecutor shouldn&#x27;t be a rubber stamp. The other part is wondering what happens if I help defendant get off and he hurts someone else.<p>We left a message with the attorney asking for more detail and haven&#x27;t heard back. It may be that the attorney found someone else, decided our field won&#x27;t help, or maybe just can&#x27;t afford us. But if we do hear back, if we are able to assist, and if the attorney does want to retain us, I don&#x27;t know how we&#x27;ll respond.<p>I hope I have the courage to say yes. But I don&#x27;t know that I do.<p>(throwaway account to mask my normal HN identity).