
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 22, 1995                   TAG: 9508220087
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JENNIFER MULLIGAN
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

JUSTICE KOONTZ RESTORES PRIDE

AS I listened to the remarks made by Justice Lawrence L. Koontz Jr. following his investiture as a justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, tears welled up in my eyes. I realized that the emotion I was feeling wasn't only a total and absolute respect for the man himself, but also a respect for the system he represents.

In these days of television trials, which place not only the defendant on trial but also the legal system as a whole, most people have come to disrespect our system of justice because they believe the Simpson trial and the Menendez brothers' trial realistically represent the quagmire into which our legal system has fallen. I disagree.

For a truly representative view of how our justice system works, one need only witness a ceremony like the one administering the oath of office to Justice Koontz.

Here's a man who is the epitome of what's right about the system, being honored by hundreds of other men and women who are also outstanding examples of why our system works. The honor and integrity present at that ceremony were almost like a physical presence, created by and touching the lives of everyone who was there.

When people find out I'm a lawyer, they usually want to rant and rave about how horrible our system is, and how sleazy lawyers will be the downfall of the ``American way.'' Lawyer jokes are prevalent; disrespect for the legal system is considered normal. Usually, I apologize for the legal profession. There are many lawyers for whom I have no respect. However, I watched Justice Koontz and was reminded that this is the real legal system. The others - those high-profile, highly paid, media-grabbing, legal con artists - are an aberration.

Sometimes I'm ashamed of being a lawyer, and ashamed of what the legal system has become, because the general public wants to shame us. But I was reminded, by Justice Koontz's example, of what being a lawyer really means. That day I was proud of being a lawyer, and proud of the system I represent.

Jennifer Mulligan, of Roanoke, is an associate professor and head of the legal-assistant program at Virginia Western Community College.

by CNB