# "Never Had a Factually Innocent Defendant" -- Seriously, Bricker?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-had-a-factually-innocent-defendant-seriously-bricker/549443
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [August 6, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-had-a-factually-innocent-defendant-seriously-bricker/549443 "2010-08-06T19:13:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 7

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### Author: ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/never-had-a-factually-innocent-defendant-seriously-bricker/549443/7 "2010-08-06T20:02:30Z")

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> [@StusBlues](#):
>
> I do know of at least one person (my girlfriend) who was arrested at home for non-payment of a traffic fine, but who was turned loose minutes later when this was found to be a clerical error. She had the receipt in her purse when they picked her up (handcuffed and everything), but they needed to verify her innocence at the station.

There are probably plenty of people like that. Note that your girlfriend never had to see a defense attorney.

And I’ll extend my remarks a bit. I have had clients that I thought were probably or possibly factually innocent of the top count of the indictment, but almost certainly guilty of one of the many lesser-includeds involved. That is, I have taken clients to trial when the prosecution overcharged the case, which they often did to try to force a plea.

But newborn innocent? Nope.

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