The law firm faced swift and harsh criticism following its engagement from private citizens, gay rights activists, and others. Shortly thereafter, King & Spalding withdrew from the case and Clement resigned from the firm, saying he quit ''not because of strongly held views about this statute,'' but, he said ''I resign out of the firmly held belief that'' a lawyer should not abandon his client ''because the client's legal position is extremely unpopular in certain quarters.''
He went on to say that: ''I would have never undertaken this matter unless I believed I had the full backing of the firm. I recognized from the outset that this statute implicates very sensitive issues that prompt strong views on both sides. But having undertaken the representation, I believe there is no honorable course for me but to complete it.''
According to the article, Clement was quoted as having said in an interview with NPR that: ''More important than any one issue is the idea that we have an adversary system of justice, and it just doesn't work if you say that defending one side of the controversy is completely out of bounds.''
Clement joined Bancroft PLLC
, a law firm founded by fellow Bush administration official Viet D. Dinh, where he will continue his defense of DOMA for the House.Go Paul.
In today's often graceless age, in which nary a day goes by that corruption and crime isn't reported on every front, from corporate America to government, and parents are fighting tooth and nail to instill values and morals in their children, Clement's actions are to be applauded.
In a society where jokes about lawyers are a dime a dozen, Clement's single action did more to honor and credit his profession than any service award, than any pro-bono work, than any courtroom victory.
His actions send a message - not just to the legal community, not just for lawyers in training, not just for practicing attorneys, but for people everywhere.
Instead of bowing to peer pressure, Clement took the high road and embraced his principles, putting the client's interests ahead of his own. And he did it in the face of an unsavory, controversial issue, which make his actions doubly impressive.
And isn't that the stuff that's made this country great?
Kids, take a lesson. Being an attorney isn't easy. And nothing good ever came easy.
