True Vermont

The Vermont Supreme Court vacated the convictions of Michael Brillon due the nearly three years it took to bring him to trial.  In that time, Brillon went through six attorneys for various reasons.  Now, Vermont’s most notorious murder suspects, Christopher Williams and Brian Rooney are asking for new lawyers, prompting expressions of grave concern from the governor to the State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs Association.  However, the defendants had already expressed dissatisfaction with counsel before the Brillon decision. 

There’s no reason for alarm.  The responsibility for the failure in the Brillon case lies squarely at the feet of the trial court, but in the most recent cases the judges are on top of the situation.  If assigned counsel is not prepared, or otherwise not performing to a minimum standard, the court has a duty to replace him or her.  There’s a reason lawyers are held in lower esteem than used car salesmen, and it’s not because they perform admirably in every case.  If counsel’s performance is found to be adequate, the defendant can either keep the assigned attorney or go it alone.  It’s just that simple.