A Killer's Tears

Tom Rose had waited eight long years to get to this point when he is about to be promoted to become a partner at Stern & Hobbs. At this critical juncture of his career, he is urged to represent Hope Kane, a pro bono client who is awaiting trial for the murder of her husband and daughter. Hope had been the topic of headline news just a year before, not only for her horrific crime, but also because she had refused to utter a single word from the moment of her arrest. Her identity is a complete mystery, as there are no records of her existence. The evidence against Hope is damning, and no defense lawyer is willing to take on a highly publicized case that is sure to end in a conviction.

Tom Rose had waited eight long years to get to this point when he is about to be promoted to become a partner at Stern & Hobbs. At this critical juncture of his career, he is urged to represent Hope Kane, a pro bono client who is awaiting trial for the murder of her husband and daughter. Hope had been the topic of headline news just a year before, not only for her horrific crime, but also because she had refused to utter a single word from the moment of her arrest. Her identity is a complete mystery, as there are no records of her existence. The evidence against Hope is damning, and no defense lawyer is willing to take on a highly publicized case that is sure to end in a conviction.

John Bae is a practicing attorney in New York City and a partner at a national law firm. He is the recipient of the Burton Award for Legal Excellence and was selected to Hofstra University School of Law's Inaugural Hall of Fame. He lives in New York and Florida