Legacy
A Message from OAD's Attorney-in-Charge, Richard M. Greenberg
What makes someone a great indigent criminal defense attorney? Surely, it helps to be intelligent, hard-working, dedicated, articulate, and passionate. Hopefully, those of us who have chosen this career have at least some, if not all, of these attributes to a greater or lesser degree.
In addition to this list of virtues, a great defender should also possess the gift of being able to offer a client unconditional loyalty without judgment, and the ability to look into the eyes of a client – whether guilty or not – and know that behind those eyes lies a decent human being, worthy of respect and capable of redemption.
What makes for an exceptional defender office? A sense of unity of purpose and shared commitment to the common mission of achieving justice and providing humane, high-quality, client-centered representation and assistance to each and every client. A reservoir of genuine esteem for one’s colleagues, and the knowledge that each member’s contributions play a critical role in the well-being of the office and the clients.
What makes for a just society? A recognition that each and every individual is a unique, valuable, and inherently good person; an understanding that each and every individual is deserving of respect, compassion, and forgiveness; and a common desire to reach out and help the least fortunate of us.
Over the course of my 32-year legal career, I have never wavered from these principles and I strive every day to live up to them. I have sought to learn from my colleagues, my clients, and even my adversaries, while at the same time endeavoring to impart whatever knowledge, experience, and humility I have to those with whom I interact.
To whatever extent that I have been even partially successful in achieving these lofty goals, I thank my mother, Doris Greenberg, who passed away on May 30, 2009. An extraordinary individual, not versed in the law, not engaged in a profession, and not bound to any particular ideology, Doris embodied all of the attributes that I have aspired to achieve: those mentioned above, along with kindness, warmth and affection to all, generosity of material and spirit, an innate sense of right, unquenchable curiosity and creativity, humor and lightness, the ability to be serious but also to never take oneself too seriously, and, most of all, common decency. Her legacy to me is the spirit that infuses my daily toils, my sorrows and joys, my victories and defeats; the spirit that energizes me to do the work I do each and every day, and to always appreciate the opportunity I have been given to do so; and the spirit that opens my heart empathically to whomever and whatever comes my way.
I am proud of what I have accomplished, and what we at OAD have accomplished together. We each take the lessons that we learn and apply them in our own unique way, adding our own experiences and wisdom, to help make the world a better, more just place. I honor the memory of Doris Greenberg, who did so much to make me who I am and who, by extension, helped those I have helped, touched those I have touched, and loved those I have loved.