In the Marvel Cinematic Universe,Matt Murdock,aka Daredevil,is often depicted as a brilliant, Columbia-educated attorney; a beacon of justice both inside and outside the courtroom. His sharp legal mind and unwavering moral code position him to be the ideal counsel for those who are suffering in Hell’s Kitchen. However, this only scratches the surface of a far more complex and ethically compromised legal career.
For decades,comic book readers have followed Matt Murdock’s journey,both in his regular day-to-day life and his vigilante life.But sometimes, these two parts of his life are at odds, fighting a war that cannot be won.
The delicate balance between attorney and Daredevil often crumbles under pressure, leading to questionable decisions, professional negligence, and outright ethical breaches that would more than likelyhave him disbarred in the real world. Decades of comics reveal a man who is deeply conflicted; whose pursuit of justice as Daredevil sabotages his pursuit of justice as Matt Murdock.
The Weight Of The Cowl Undermines Matt’s Professionalism
A Lawyer Swears To Abide By A Certain Code Of Ethics, But Daredevil Does Not
Matt Murdock’s nighttime activities as Daredeviltake a severe toll not only on his personal life,but on his legal practice as well.The relentless demands of vigilantism and Avengers team-ups sometimes make it impossible for him to carry out his duties as an attorney. This internal conflict sometimes leads to Matt deliberately sabotaging or withdrawing from cases because his dual identity makes a true, unbiased defense impossible. The physical and mental strain means Matt is often not giving his clients the zealous representation they are entitled to under New York State law.
A recurring dilemma is when Matt Murdock finds himself defending people he apprehended as Daredevil. This is the textbook definition of conflict of interest and a breach of the ethical code lawyers are sworn to uphold. For MCU fans,the Disney+ series,Daredevil: Born Again, delves into the gray areas in which Matt operates in the first few episodes, where he defends Hector Ayala, a fellow vigilante known as White Tiger. Though his heart is in the right place,Matt’s personal stake as Daredevil transforms Hector’s life-or-death case into a commentary on how vigilantes should be viewed in a court of law.
This complicated web of the personal versus the public has run through decades of Matt’s comic history. InDaredevil#174, written and illustrated by the seminalDaredevilcreator, Frank Miller,Murdock represents Melvin Potter. Like Matt, Melvin also has a secret life as the villain, Gladiator, leading to the question:how can an attorney effectively defend a client when he intimately knows the details of their criminal acts from a vigilante perspective?This compromises Matt’s ability to objectively represent someone like Melvin, creating a situation where his personal interests as Daredevil interfere with his professional obligations as a lawyer.
Another example of Matt’s flexible ethics happened during a period when Spider-Man’s identity was at risk. InAmazing Spider-Man: Extra! #1, written by Marc Guggenheim with art by Chris Bachalo, Marcos Martin, and Pat Olliffe,Murdock orchestrated a theatrical courtroom display for his friend Peter Parker.To prevent Spider-Man from being unmasked, Matt had multiple people, including Peter himself, appear in Spider-Man costumes, leaping and swinging around the courtroom. This stunt, while effective in casting doubt on Spider-Man’s identity, was a highly unorthodox andethically questionable defense strategy, designed to mislead the court rather than present clear evidence.
Ethical Lines Blur The Pursuit Of Justice
Balancing Life As An Attorney And A Vigilante Is A Struggle
Matt’s flexibility isn’t limited to grand courtroom spectacles. Often, his deeper knowledge of the criminal underworld, gained throughhis activities as Daredevil, subtly influenced his legal strategies in ways that skirted ethical boundaries. He is able to exploit procedural loopholes and use privileged information that was not directly obtained through legal routes to his client’s advantage or to indirectly serve a larger goal. This covert manipulation of the justice system, while always intended for the greater good and yielding favorable outcomes for his clients, shows thatMatt is not beyond prioritizing his own brand of justice over following legal impartiality and professional conduct.
Matt’s flexibility isn’t limited to grand courtroom spectacles.
Beyond dramatic stunts, Matt sometimes accepts cases not purely for the sake of the client, but to gather intelligence for Daredevil. His legal aid, therefore, is not always used to serve his client’s best interests,but to further his own vigilante agenda. While the outcome might occasionally benefit the client on happenstance,the actual intent violates fundamental principles of attorney-client privileges.Matt’s willingness to use his legal practice as an extension of crime-fighting, even if for benevolent reasons, highlights a frequent disregard for professional boundaries.
A Double Life Constantly Threatens His Legal Career
It Is Impossible For Matt To Have It All
The impact ofMatt’s double life extends beyond ethical lapses, as his other lifeconstantly threatens the stability and reputation of Nelson & Murdock.His frequent disappearances, unexplained injuries, and focus on Daredevil activities leaves his partner, Foggy Nelson to shoulder the burden of their firm. This inconsistency and unreliability led to financial struggles and problems between Matt and Foggy, making him an unreliable partner and counselor, regardless of his intentions.
Despite his impressive legal skills,Matt Murdock has faced professional setbacksand outright failures that contrast sharply with any notion of him being a perfect lawyer. In Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto’sDaredevilrun,Matt finds himself directly implicated in a death resulting from his vigilantism, eventually leading to him turning himself in.This pivotal event shows the real-world legal consequences of his double life, forcing him to contend with the very justice system he swore to uphold, not as an attorney, but as a defendant.
When his identity as Daredevil was publicly revealed by Kingpin, as explored in comic runs likeDaredevil: Born Againby Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli andDaredevilby Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, it interfered with his ability to practice law.The conflict of interest spiraled to the point where Matt was disbarred.
Ultimately,the rich tapestry of Daredevil comicspaints a far more nuanced picture of Matt Murdock’s legal career. He is a lawyer driven by a deep sense of justice, but one whose methods and priorities are constantly warped by the demands of his alter ego.Matt Murdockis a deeply flawed legal professional, whose brilliance is often overshadowed by ethical compromises, the toll of his secret life, and a complex relationship with the very laws he swore to uphold. This human frailty, however, only serves to make the Man Without Fear a more compelling and relatable character.
