Harden Law Offices

104 Main Street, Lancaster, NH 03584 603.788.2080
2 Cottage Street, Littleton, NH 03561 603.444.2084
199 Heater Road, Lebanon, NH 03766 603.448.3737
www.dwilawyernh.net
info@lenharden.com

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Post Conviction Exonerations Highest Ever

Image result for violent crime

Homicides make up high number of record exonerations:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-exonerations-2015-record-number-new-report/


A bedrock principle of criminal law is often referred to as Blackstone's formulation (Blackstone's ratio or the Blackstone ratio) this is principle states:

"It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer",

...as expressed by the English jurist William Blackstone in his seminal work, Commentaries on the Laws of England, published in the 1760s.  Uber-Founding Father Benjamin Franklin took this one step further and said that "… it is better one hundred guilty Persons should escape than that one innocent Person should suffer."
 
The message to government and the courts is that justice must err on the side of innocence.  I work hard on a daily basis to exude the ideals of professionalism, courtesy and respect but most importantly justice.  Our entire system of justice depends on a presumption of innocence and requiring the government to prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt.

This story by CBS showing a high number of falsely convicted murderers and rapists who were later exonerated means our system of justice is flawed.  The fact that the American justice system is convicting citizens wrongly is simply unacceptable morally and ethically.   It means that we as a country have to work harder to ensure that truly innocent people are not convicted.  It also means that we have to examine our roles in the problem.

United States Constitution

I as an attorney have taken an oath to diligently defend the US and NH Constitutions and each one of my clients. RSA 311:6.  This oath means that I must "do no falsehood, nor consent that any be done in the court.. and will act in the office of an attorney within the court according to the best of my learning and discretion, and with all good fidelity as well to the court as to your client."  I also take pride in knowing the law, rules, procedures and effectively defending each citizen to the best of my training, ability using my experience.

I am very proud to work as a defense attorney for over 20 years serving Northern NH.  I pride myself on helping citizens accused defend themselves against criminal charges.  I have a history of representing citizens charged with serious felonies such as: murder, manslaughter, sexual assaults, first degree assaults, drug charges to DWI, hunting violations and motor vehicle violations.  I believe every citizen deserves a defense and aggressively, passionately and diligently defend each of my clients.  If you are facing a NH criminal case contact me.  I am available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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