The general principles which should ever control the lawyer in the practice of the legal profession are clearly set forth in the following oath of admission to the Bar, which the lawyer is sworn on admission to obey and for the willful violation to which disbarment may be had.I do hereby affirm:
I will support the Constitution of the United States and the
Constitution
of the State of Florida;
I will maintain the respect due to courts of justice and
judicial
officers;
I will not counsel or maintain any suit or proceedings which
shall appear
to me to be unjust, nor any defense except such as I believe
to be
honestly
debatable under the law of the land;
I will employ for the purpose of maintaining the causes
confided to
me
such means only as are consistent with truth and honor, and
will never
seek to
mislead the judge or jury by any artifice or false statement
of fact
or law;
I will maintain the confidence and preserve inviolate the
secrets of
my
clients, and will accept no compensation in connection with
their business
except from them or with their knowledge and approval;
I will abstain from all offensive personality and advance no
fact
prejudicial to the honor or reputation of a party or witness,
unless
required by
the justice of the cause with which I am charged;
I will never reject, from any consideration personal to
myself, the
cause
of the defenseless or oppressed, or delay anyone's cause for
lucre
or malice.