I mean, I just don’t really understand how lawyers can defend rapists, child predators, murderers, etc. I think I would have to have a moral line somewhere.

Justice relies on everyone having access to a defense. It’s like being a nurse or doctor, you still have to try your hardest to save the bad people.

IF someone is certainly a child predator and the prosecution fails to prove this beyond reasonable doubt, then they’re getting rusty and need you to be there to challenge them. Or… maybe your client (the defendent) didn’t do it.

ALSO Defense lawyers will often end up advising a guilty party to just plead guilty. Which, when the party actually is guioty, is the best case scenario for everyone.

To be completely serious, playing ace attorney and watching courtroom drama movies helped me to understand this better than i can explain. Consider it if you’re into those things.