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3 comments

[–] Justintoxicated 3 points (+3|-0)

As word of the confession got out, my case started attracting local media interest. Then 60 Minutes aired a segment. The public was outraged. Many people demanded Kunz and Coventry’s disbarment, others recommended they be fined, and some suggested that they be imprisoned for 26 years. Years after my release, Kunz said he never expected such a hostile reaction.

See this is a very tough position for the lawyers because they have to uphold attorney-client privilege however if they were to inform the courts that they know that Logan didn't do it the courts would demand they break this privilege which would mean disbarment and loss of clients (I sure as hell wouldn't hire a lawyer that turns in their clients), if they mention that they have a confession but withhold the client's name they face charges for withholding evidence, contempt of court, and possible disbarment. So basically they were put in a position in which the only option which would not result in losing their livelihoods was to say nothing. Also if the lawyers had reasonable belief that the offender was not going to perpetrate again the it is a fairly safe position to take (for example if a lawyer had a pedophile confessing to them they may have to break privilege in but only with assurance that their client would receive a more agreeable sentence.).

[–] smallpond [OP] 2 points (+2|-0) Edited

Twenty six years in prison as an innocent man.

The actual murderer Andrew Wilson died in jail serving a life sentence, but the lawyers would have known that was likely to take 20 years. I may be asking a lot here, but I'd like to think some decent well-educated likely reasonably-wealthy human beings would suffer a career restart to avoid causing that.

Edit: I suppose there may be a bigger issue of eroding public trust in attorney-client privilege... though I doubt that would help me sleep at night.