Final answer:
The subject of this question is Law. Defense attorneys have an ethical duty to provide the best defense for their clients, even if they are guilty of heinous crimes. This obligation is rooted in the Sixth Amendment and has been clarified through Supreme Court cases like Strickland v. Washington and Padilla v. Kentucky.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question is Law. The question focuses on the obligation of defense attorneys to provide the best possible defense for an accused client, regardless of guilt or the severity of the crime.
In Strickland v. Washington (1984), the Supreme Court established that criminal defense attorneys must provide effective assistance of counsel, which requires representing their clients to the best of their ability. In Padilla v. Kentucky (2010), the Court clarified that defense attorneys must inform their clients about the risk of deportation following a conviction.
This ethical duty is rooted in the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the right to legal representation for those accused of crimes. The landmark case of Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) ensured that defendants who cannot afford an attorney are provided with a public defender. This principle balances the need for fair trials with the accused's right to a defense.