The representation of a citizen or non-citizen accused in a court of law who is facing criminal charges brought by the prosecution is unlike any other professional relationship. At stake is a person's liberty, property, and at times, their very life. Full commitment to the cause, total candor between client and attorney, and a resolve to be willing to take on the very institutions of government are required and nothing less can be expected. At the law firm of Bennett & Secrest, that has been our philosophy and work ethic since the inception of the firm. My partner, Robert C. "Bob" Bennett, now retired, instilled in me a dedication to the cause of justice and a commitment to be willing to stand in between the client and the government no matter what the allegation, who the adversary, or what the evidence may suggest. We have achieved excellent results for our clients and, along the way, garnered respect and admiration not only from our fellow colleagues and judges whom we have appeared before, but often from our adversaries, as well.
We have often shied away from publicity, especially when it is not in the best interest of the client to have his or her personal affairs aired in the media. Therefore, many of our clients who have come from the ranks of the judiciary and their family members, elected officials, prosecutors, lawyers, physicians, business executives, police officers and other law- enforcement officials, cannot and will not be named here.
Bennett & Secrest is also well-known and revered for bringing technical legal skills to bear in a client's representation. The preparation of motions, memoranda and legal briefs and the conducting of evidentiary hearings in order to secure compliance with constitutional, evidentiary and statutory requirements is a hallmark of the firm. Representation on appeal and in post-conviction proceedings is also undertaken. The final result is that the art of advocacy on behalf of a client is practiced not only in the courtroom before a jury of one's peers but also in non-jury legal proceedings where a mastery of criminal procedure, evidence and constitutional law often can impact the final resolution of a case, including the determination of a just and fair sentence.
