Ron Silver Quotes

Alan Dershowitz We've got two big problems here. The case against him is very strong but more importantly is the absolute certainty that Claus is guilty, finding grounds for reversal won't be enough here. Judges on the Rhode Island Supreme Court will have to go home to their wives and explain to them why they reversed. To do that we have to totally obliterate the States case so that they have no other reason to affirm. Total victory or we are dead in the water. Now, I assumed you've all had a chance to go over the transcripts and materials, first impressions?

Alan Dershowitz Yeah, Minnie.

Minnie I think this whole case stinks! I think von Bülow stinks! He's obviously guilty of something pretty despicable and if we free him we become his accessories, accomplices after the fact. I'm really shocked with your reputation for defending the poor and oppressed that you've taken this case. I won't have anything to do with it, and I hope my fellow students won't either.

Alan Dershowitz Can I exercise my First Amendment right to free speech? If lawyers only defended innocent clients there would only be 12 defense attorneys and none of you would be able to find a job.

Minnie Why help guilty people get off?

Alan Dershowitz Oh you're sure he's guilty, 100% sure?

Minnie He had a lawyer. He had a trial. He was convicted.

Alan Dershowitz Are you sure he had a fair trial?

Minnie Come on!

Alan Dershowitz It's the basis of the whole legal system! Everyone gets a defense. So the system is there for the innocent person falsely accused. OK, say it's you OK? You decide you're gonna get a divorce, you're gonna divorce your husband. A week later you're accused of child abuse. Oh, no don't give me that people do it all the time. Suddenly you're alone it's a disaster. Everyone thinks that you are guilty. Even the mailman is looking at you a little funny. There's only one person who can help you. There's only one person who you can trust, your lawyer.

Minnie Yeah, okay, so, someone's got to defend Claus. But why you, why us?

Alan Dershowitz Look, you're my student, you, you have a choice. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do; that is your choice. The reason I take cases -- and here I'm unlike most other lawyers, who are not professors and therefore have to make a living -- I take cases because I get pissed off. And I am pissed off here. The family hired a private prosecutor: unacceptable! They conducted a private search! Now if we let them get away with that, rich people won't go to the cops any more. You know what they're going to do? They're going to get their own lawyers to collect evidence -- and then they are going to choose which evidence they feel like passing on to the DA. And the next victim isn't going to be rich, like von Bülow -- but it's going to be some poor schnook in Detroit who can't afford, or who can't find, a decent lawyer. I think it's a little more complicated than your simple moral superiority, hmm?

Alan Dershowitz Our new evidence will clearly indicate...

Judge Professor, you know there isn't a single case which allows you to introduce new evidence on appeal.

Alan Dershowitz Well, there is one, your honor, and you wrote it. Derrick. In Derrick, in Derrick, you yourself said that a case based on circumstantial theory rather than fact only stands up if no other theory makes sense. The only way to show a better theory is to present it!

Alan Dershowitz This is the most dangerous case I have ever worked on.

Claus von Bülow You find that exhilarating?

Alan Dershowitz No, I do not. I am breaking every rule. Cause the best way to win is to proclaim your innocence, and I have never done that for anybody. And the problem I got is, I see who you are. You'd do anything to win.

Claus von Bülow So would you.

Alan Dershowitz Yeah, but you don't trust the legal system.

Claus von Bülow You're saying I'd manufacture... witnesses? Affidavits?

Alan Dershowitz No. But you would sacrifice me.

Claus von Bülow Oh, please.

Alan Dershowitz See, the more I believe that you are innocent, the more nervous I am. I go out on a limb for you, you're proven guilty, I look like an asshole. My reputation, my credibility, my career, destroyed.

Claus von Bülow That's the risk you're taking, isn't it?

Alan Dershowitz Well, fuck you, fuck you, man... I'm glad we understand one another.

Raj I agree von Bülow is guilty, but then, that's the fun -- that's the challenge.

Alan Dershowitz Now THERE is a lawyer.

Alan Dershowitz You are a very strange man.

Claus von Bülow You have no idea.

Claus von Bülow Well, so much for the first coma. The second, of course, was much more theatrical.

Alan Dershowitz Theatrical? What is this, a fucking game? This is life and death; your wife is lying in a coma. You, you don't even make a pretense of caring, do you?

Claus von Bülow Course I care, Alan. It's just, I don't wear my heart on my sleeve.

Alan Dershowitz A priest? Well, a priest is the ideal witness: it's like getting the word of God

Claus von Bülow I checked. God is unavailable.

Claus von Bülow I'm not afraid, Alan. Let the chips fall where they may.

Alan Dershowitz That's what an innocent man would say.

Claus von Bülow I know.

Alan Dershowitz I'm not a hired gun. I've got to feel there's some moral or constitutional issue at stake.

Claus von Bülow But I'm absolutely innocent, and my civil liberties have been egregiously violated!

Alan Dershowitz I've got two black kids facing the electric chair for a crime they did not commit. THEY are innocent.

Claus von Bülow Well, before you assume I'm guilty, won't you hear my story?

Alan Dershowitz No. Never let defendants explain; puts most of them in an awkward position.

Claus von Bülow How do you mean?

Alan Dershowitz Lying.

Alan Dershowitz You do have one thing in your favor: everybody hates you.

Claus von Bülow Well, that's a start.

Alan Dershowitz Why -- why do you think this case fascinates people? Cause, one time or other, every man is driven crazy by his wife, and in his secret heart, he wants to do exactly what Claus is accused of: kill her in some sly, silent way that can't be detected. Claus is a scapegoat: someone has to suffer for the sin that we all want to commit.

Team member Alan... that's ridiculous.

Alan Dershowitz It's ridiculous, you're right.

Alan Dershowitz If the rules don't work, you change them.

Alan Dershowitz All right, my friend...

Claus von Bülow Friend"? I like that.

Alan Dershowitz Nothing personal.

Alan Dershowitz Reminds me of my ] dream. You know, Hitler calls up, he's alive... needs a lawyer. I say, "Sure, come on over." Then I have to decide: do I take the case, or do I kill him?

Elon Dershowitz You? No question.

Alan Dershowitz I would take the case...

Alan/Elon Then kill him.

Alan Dershowitz Claus, let me explain something to you: the less you tell me, the more options I have.

Alan Dershowitz One thing, Claus. Legally, this was an important victory. Morally -- you're on your own.

Minnie He says he doesn't have anything that'd help us.

Alan Dershowitz You with me?

Sarah Paydirt.

Raj What's paydirt?

Alan Dershowitz He's a lawyer. If he really didn't have anything, he'd give it to us. But there's something there, and he's going to fight like hell to hold onto it.