What happens when a seasoned prosecutor crosses the aisle to become a defense attorney? James Porfido's remarkable 35-year legal journey reveals troubling truths about our justice system that every attorney and citizen needs to hear.

With his book "Unequal Justice" as a backdrop, James shares how a devastating 1994 vehicular homicide case changed not only his career trajectory but also New Jersey law. When a drunk driver killed a mother of three, James pursued the highest possible charges, while the victim's husband, an attorney, successfully campaigned for stricter mandatory minimums for DUI fatalities. In a heartbreaking twist, this same husband was later killed in an accident near where his wife died, leading James to carry on his advocacy work by speaking to over 75,000 students about drinking and driving.

The conversation takes a provocative turn when James describes switching sides to become a defense attorney. "I saw how the system seemed to be somewhat skewed in favor of the state," he reveals, noting how the presumption of innocence often feels like mere lip service. This bias became even more pronounced during COVID, when algorithmic risk assessments began determining pretrial detention, keeping defendants jailed while judges treated numerical scores as "gospel truth" rather than one factor among many.

Beyond the courtroom, James discusses his work in helping craft New Jersey's Good Samaritan Law for overdose cases, his representation of families of crime victims in high-profile murders, and his 18-year career as a legal analyst, which has included cases such as those involving O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson. Now teaching Persuasion and Advocacy at Seton Hall Law School, he emphasizes to students that experiencing both sides of the courtroom develops crucial objectivity.

Reach James here:

Unequal Justice book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4jMHbwB
www.unequal-justice.com
https://www.porfidolaw.com

This episode is sponsored by Wealthy Woman Lawyer®

Wealthy Woman Lawyer® is a law firm growth strategy and business coaching service exclusively for women law firm owners. Ready for a practice that funds your dream lifestyle and gives you time to enjoy it?

Visit https://wealthywomanlawyer.com today.

Join our private community, Law Firm Growth Guild, Your Shortcut to Marketing Mastery and More Clients at
https://checkout.lawmarketingzone.com

Ready to level up your law firm marketing? Book a FREE Discovery Call with Marilyn Here: https://lawmarketingzone.com/bookacall

Leadership In Law Podcast with host, Marilyn Jenkins
Powered by Law Marketing Zone®
https://lawmarketingzone.com
A full-service Digital Marketing Agency helping clients increase Leads, Cases, and Profit by getting their digital marketing right.

Subscribe on your favorite Podcast listening platform!

Like, Share, and Review us!

#leadershipinlawpodcast #leadershipinlaw #lawmarketingzone #marilynjenkins