re: The reason lawyers get respect -
Is the courage they display in defending unpopular causes and unpopular people.
In Iraq, defense lawyers are getting murdered for defending some very unpopular people. It is to the credit of lawyers everywhere that they are still daring to conduct the defense of Saddam and his fellow defendants.
Unless you are willing to toss away every thing America stands for, the accused is entitled to his day in court; to face his accusers; and to have the very best defense possible. Only then is any conviction, and the subsequent punishment that goes with it, meaningful and just.
Publius