Letter to a Young Prosecutor: Guidance on Ethics - 1st Edition - George Fisher

Letter to a Young Prosecutor: Guidance on Ethics 1st Edition George Fisher

ISBN: 9781642422597

Letter to a Young Prosecutor provides practical ethical guidance for prosecutors in the early stages of their careers, particularly those in their first and second years of practice. Drawing on his own experiences and ethical missteps as a young prosecutor, the author seeks to help new attorneys avoid similar mistakes and navigate the professional challenges of prosecution.

The author explains that many ethical failures do not result from a lack of knowledge of professional conduct rules or constitutional requirements, but rather from the desire to succeed and the reluctance to challenge senior colleagues. A central theme of the book is therefore the importance of maintaining one's ethical principles and resisting pressure to compromise them.

The book opens with a prologue titled "On Regret," which emphasizes the lasting consequences of failing to do what is right. Reflecting on his own experience of not challenging superiors who advocated for an unjustly harsh outcome, the author encourages young prosecutors to make principled decisions they can stand behind throughout their careers.

The main text is divided into three units. The first, "First Principles," explores the prosecutor's fundamental responsibility to seek justice. The author translates this broad obligation into practical guiding principles, including prioritizing truth, confronting bias, exercising leniency, following established rules, treating others with humanity, and standing firm when ethical challenges arise. Particular attention is given to the importance of resisting pressure to compromise professional standards.

The second unit, "Professional Relations," examines the ethical responsibilities prosecutors have when interacting with police officers, crime victims, witnesses, defense attorneys, defendants, judges, support staff, supervisors, and the wider community. Topics include maintaining appropriate professional boundaries with law enforcement, holding police accountable, responding to incompetent defense counsel, and addressing ethical disagreements with office superiors.

The final unit examines a prosecutor's ethical obligations throughout the criminal justice process, from the initial charging decision through sentencing. It brings together the applicable professional conduct rules, constitutional requirements, and broader ethical principles governing each stage of a criminal prosecution.

The book concludes by asking, "Should Good People Be Prosecutors?" The author challenges the belief that the criminal justice system inevitably undermines idealistic young attorneys and highlights both the considerable challenges and the meaningful responsibility of pursuing a career dedicated to seeking justice.

An accompanying author overview is also available, offering additional insight into the book's central themes and guidance.

Letter to a Young Prosecutor: Guidance on Ethics 2026 1st Edition George Fisher
ISBN: 9781642422597, 978-1642422597, 978-1-6424-2259-7, 978-1-64242-259-7