Ethics in Justice Administration

Our criminal courtroom is designed to have two parties, the prosecutor and the defense, along
with a jury in most trials, with a judge overseeing everything. This design is set up with different
duties and responsibilities. The prosecutor is seeking justice for the victim and for the rule of law,
the defense is trying to provide a solid legal representation for the accused, the jury (if
appropriate, not all trials will have a jury) will decide guilt or innocence, and the judge makes sure
all legal policies and procedures are followed, as well as decides the sentence if there is a guilty
plea. This structure is set up to include checks and balances but sometimes (not often) one or
more of the parties involved has their own agenda and unethical (and even illegal) decisions are
made. What is the attorney-client privilege? What are the exceptions to this rule? How does it
function in the criminal justice system? Do you think it is honored more often than not by
attorneys and the court system? Why or why not? Give examples to support your position