Hi, Folks -

There was a great 1995 lawyer TV series you may have missed - season 1 of "Murder One". In 1995 it confused the audience a bit. It was one of the first shows with a long story arc, such that individual episodes didn't resolve everything at the end of the hour. This meant viewers who had missed an episode or two might tune in and feel a bit lost, not quite knowing what was going on. This makes it very satisfying today, though, when "binge watching" is common. :)

In episode 1, there's a scene in which main character, criminal defense attorney Theodore "Teddy" Hoffman (Daniel Benzali), responds to loud-mouthed remarks made by a balding and somewhat combative bar patron, regarding the presumed deceitfulness and treachery of defense lawyers to get guilty clients off. Here's the dialogue that follows:

Teddy Hoffman: Do you think anyone in this bar believes you've got a full head of hair? We all know that's a comb-over. But till you get so obnoxious you forfeit your right to civil treatment, no one here points it out. Think of the trial system like that. We know accused people aren't always innocent. Maybe not even usually innocent.

Bar Patron: Yeah, now start to twist things around.

Teddy Hoffman: And even though we know that, we treat people like they're innocent till they've had their shot in court. It makes us better people, it civilizes us to treat them that way. Civility is important. That's why no one in here called you a self-deceiving fool till you opened your drunken mouth.

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