Explain why it is that while prosecutors must only prosecute individuals reasonably believed to be guilty defense attorneys must defend clients they know to be guilty?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The reason for this duty is that for the American adversarial system of justice to work, it is necessary
that actions and claims made by the government prosecutor be tested and challenged by a zealous
advocate. If the prosecutor’s case and evidence can withstand such scrutiny and be accepted beyond a
reasonable doubt by a judge or jury, the likelihood of an innocent person being convicted of a crime he or
she did not commit is considered remote. To effectively put the prosecutor’s case to the test, a defense
attorney must be able to challenge the reliability of the evidence presented, cross-examine witnesses
against the defendant, and raise matters involving violations of the defendant’s rights regardless of
whether the defendant is in fact guilty as charged.