A Colorado Hearing Board nails it in an order (PDF)
suspending a lawyer for mishandling a criminal case involving allegations of child sexual assault:
Defense lawyers, even those involved in defending against the most heinous charges, owe a duty of loyalty to their clients. This duty compels attorneys to competently represent their clients, which entails acquiring the requisite knowledge and adequately preparing and investigating their clients’ cases. This duty transcends empathy for the alleged victim, does not crumble in the face of a client’s admissions, and cannot be reconciled with a “no harm, no foul” attitude toward client representation.
