Could Hillary Clinton have declined to defend Thomas Taylor?
<p>In 1975 Hillary Rodham was appointed to defend Thomas Alfred Taylor who was accused of raping a 12-year-old. </p>

<p>As a public defender, could she have refused the case? She said she didn't want to do it. What could have happened to her if she refused the case? </p>

<p><strong>No.</strong> She was lawfully ordered by a judge presiding over the case, and, as a member of the bar, she had no right to refuse that appointment. She did, in fact, request that the judge choose a different attorney, but that request was declined.</p>

<p>Sources:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.factcheck.org/2016/06/clintons-1975-rape-case/" rel="nofollow">FactCheck.org - provides general background on case</a></p>

<p><a href="https://courts.arkansas.gov/rules-and-administrative-orders/court-rules/rule-82-appointment-counsel" rel="nofollow">Arkansas Judicial Rule 8.2 - Appointment of Counsel</a>, which provides that:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Attorneys so appointed <strong>shall continue to represent the indigent accused until relieved for good cause or until substituted by other counsel.</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Edit: Regarding penalties for noncompliance, refusing to represent the accused would be considered criminal contempt under state law, which provides in 16-10-108(a)(3) Arkansas Code that <em>"willful disobedience of any process or order lawfully issued or made by it [the court]"</em> is punishable as a Class C Misdemeanor, at least according to 2010 law. Also, professional sanctions might be involved, IANAL so no experience there.</p>

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