All sides in a trial want to hide at least some of the truth.

The defendant wants to hide the truth because he’s generally guilty. The defense attorney’s job is to make sure the jury does not arrive at that truth.

The prosecution … wants to make sure the process by which the evidence was obtained is not truthfully presented, because, as often as not, that process will raise questions.

The judge also has a truth he wants to hide: He often hasn’t been completely candid in describing the facts or the law.

Alan M. Dershowitz (b. 1938) American lawyer, jurist, political commentator

US News & World Report (9 Aug 1982)