Apropos the Kerry-Edwards candidacies, both of whom are lawyers,Tony Mauro has this article in USA today highlighting the number of lawyers who have become president, and the distinction of their appointments to the Supreme Court. Adams's nomination of John Marshall as Chief Justice is a prime example. The Repubs are bashing Edwards for being a successful tort lawyer who has collected millions for clients who were severely injured by the activity of large corporations, their natural constituency.
Lawyers are held in low esteem, Mauro writes. No doubt we are in some places. That I can understand. Lawyers lead in taking controversial positions. That's what we DO. Legally. People who hate us hire us. I'm thinking of police officers and their sons who hire defense lawyers. And presidents. Pres. Bush is being represented by Jim Sharp, whom I met years ago, in the Wilson-Plame-Leak-investigation, below. One of the brightest, wittiest, and yes, sharpest, of the many upstanding lawyers around.
Meanwhile, we're out doing the world's work.
Lawyer are thus a bit like what the man said about women, "Can't live with 'em, and can't live without 'em."
Forget the lawyer jokes, see the lawyer cartoons from the New Yorker magazine here .