Some NY Criminal Defense Attorneys Turn Superstitious
In a seemingly logic-driven field, some lawyers are creating superstitious habits and rituals to preserve the delicate balance of their legal universe, reports the New York Times.
“The trial gods are very powerful,” Peter E. Quijano, a criminal defense attorney, told the New York Times. “You respect them. You make little offerings.”
“Research shows superstitions are an activity we engage in to feel more in control of our environment. Rituals are a buffering mechanism,” said Northwestern University professor Adam Galinsky, in a previous ABA Journal article.
Benjamin Brafman, who represented Sean Combs (better known as Diddy) in a 2001 gun possession trial, wears an item that has special significance to court, according to the New York Times. Brafman, who says he is not superstitious, wears a red thread that protects against the evil eye. Other New York defense lawyers, like Murray Richman and Quijano, both of whom have been at the center of high profile cases, tend to eat the same food while waiting for a trial to end. David A. Ruhnke, a well-known capital case specialist, told the Times that he doesn’t use black ink on letters or e-mails. “I believe that black is a color particularly associated with death and mourning, so I will not write in black ink.”
Related Story
ABA Journal: Very Superstitious: Some Find Legal Inspiration Through Spiritual Means
ABAJournal.com: Do You Engage in Any Good-Luck Rituals?
