Final answer:
Defense attorneys primarily protect the constitutional rights of the defendant by ensuring a fair trial, challenging evidence, and advocating for the defendant's interests. They provide legal representation and present arguments to maintain the innocence of their clients.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary role of defense attorneys is to protect the constitutional rights of the defendant. They are responsible for ensuring that the defendant has a fair trial, which includes upholding rights such as being informed of accusations, confronting witnesses, obtaining witnesses in their favor, and having legal representation.
Defense attorneys work to maintain their client's innocence and establish reasonable doubt in the prosecution's case. Defense attorneys can be privately hired or, in many cases, appointed by the state as public defenders to represent those who cannot afford private counsel.
The fairness of the trial can be affected by the effectiveness of the defense, and in cases where a defendant believes their defense was inadequate, they have the right to appeal on those grounds. As part of their duty, defense attorneys also challenge evidence presented by the prosecution, cross-examine witnesses, and present arguments and evidence that favor their clients. The correct answer is A) Protecting the constitutional rights of the defendant.