Gromit:
Dr Johnson:
Sir, you do not know the cause to be good or bad until the Judge determines it...
Baron Bramwell:
A man's rights are to be determined by the court and not by his attorney or counsel... A client is entitled to say to his counsel: I want your advocacy, not your [decision]; I prefer that of the court. [Baron Bramwell was a senior judge]
It is not counsel's job to determine the guilt of his client. It his neither his duty nor must it be his concern. The client is not guilty until the magistrates or the judge, ruling on the law, and the jury, applying the law to the facts they find proved, have so decided. Counsel's duty is to ensure,fearlessly, that the best case for his client has been put with all evidence properly tested and the law properly applied, that's all. Anyone accused deserves nothing less.
This is a difficult concept for laymen to grasp. Every counsel has been asked "How can you defend a man when you know he is guilty ?" but that misunderstands the position. However overwhelming the case looks and however improbable the defendant's account may seem, you never know. Your only question to yourself after the verdict, whether "Not guilty" or "Guilty" is " Did I do my best for the defendant?" because it's just as worrying to think that you made mistakes but the man was acquitted as to think that you did and he was convicted. It's no consolation when you are prosecuting either. That Norman Birkett, Edward Cussen (who was a senior prosecutor) or Marshall Hall would have it done better, is no help either !
Satisfied, you accept the verdict.