<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

Battlestar Galactica Character
Romo Lampkin
Status	Alive
Gender	Male
Species	Human
Origin	Most likely Caprica
Portrayed by	Mark Sheppard
First Appearance	"The Son Also Rises"
Profession	Lawyer
Relatives
Special Features	Defended Gaius Baltar Kleptomaniac

Romo Lampkin is a character in the television remake of Battlestar Galactica. He is portrayed by Mark Sheppard. He first appeared in the third-season episode "The Son Also Rises."

Romo Lampkin was appointed by Laura Roslin and Admiral Adama as Gaius Baltar's Public Defender after Baltar's previous attorney was assasinated in a bombing. Romo Lampkin, Baltar's replacement counsel, is shown to be a very deliberate and eccentric individual who constantly wears a blue overcoat and sunglasses.

Lampkin used his considerable skills to get others to reveal information and react the way he wanted them to. A very deliberate man, every action he took and every word he said seems to have a purpose in the long run. Lampkin is also a kleptomaniac, stealing items such as Roslin's eyeglasses, Adama's uniform button, Baltar's pen, and a bomb part from Aaron Kelly.

Lampkin narrowly escaped death after one of Kelly's terrorist attacks put him in the hospital. He still went on, despite this, to succesfully defend Balter. Lampkin even used the bombing to gain sympathy from the court, carrying a cane which in the end it turns out there was no need for.

Lampkin's habit for stealing led to the arrest of Kelly when Lee discovered that Lampkin had unknowingly stolen a piece of a bomb from him.

History

While in the hospital after being injured in a bomb blast, Lampkin told Lee Adama about his past. At the age of 9, Lampkin's parents were kidnapped and murdered over money, which Lampkin said 'wasn't enough'. After their death he was sent to live with his uncle where he picked up his habit for kleptomania, stealing till he had enough to run away. This habit is both a tool for Lampkin, and a kind of release. What he steals seems to have a reason to it, normally the items reveal something about their owner.

When discussing Joseph Adama with Lee, he reveals that he does what he does to better understand, that the law is a way of exercising demons.

We're flawed, all of us. I wanted to know why. So I did, what he did. I spend my life with the fallen, the corrupt, the damaged.

Lampkin confessed that he had hated Joseph Adama, but also respected him. They both shared the desire to learn about the human condition, and to seek justice.

He worked on Caprica in a public litigation office, and once studied under Joseph Adama himself. According to Lampkin, Joseph Adama was a brilliant defense attorney, but not an honest man.

While talking to Six before Baltar's trial, Lampkin tells a story about a 10-year relationship with a woman he deeply loved. The relationship ended after those ten years, something Lampkin seems to regret. The fate of his wife is uncertain, though he still has Lance, who was her cat.

More On Romo

Romo asks the question, if what Baltar really did was a crime. The way Romo views it, Baltar's only crime was breaking away from the President and Admiral Adama, who he terms 'royals'.

Romo Lampkin bases the success of his case on that, believing that there is no proof that Baltar actually broke any law in any legal definition.

In a sense, it could be said that Romo Lampkin is the second son of Joseph Adama. The one that followed him, learned from him. He is Joseph Adama's protege.

The Trial

The trial begins. The prosecution opens with asking the courtroom how loss is measured. She notes the number of people who settled on New Caprica, the number who escaped in the Second Exodus and the number lost: 5,197 left behind, killed or otherwise missing. The attorney claims that the trust put in Baltar was gravely misplaced, and that the ultimate price must be paid. Romo Lampkin, Baltar's attorney, immediately asks to change the plea to guilty as a ploy to use reverse psychology to claim that the power of mob rule is trying to sway opinion in the court. Lampkin also claims that President Roslin is seeking vengeance on Baltar for her lost election, and claims that the New Capricans were victims of a hopeless battle. Baltar's decision to surrender to the Cylons had saved lives, he claims, versus what Lampkin claims Roslin would have done—stand and fight. Lampkin's opening statement is another prime example of his rhetorical skill. He uses reverse psychology to goad the mob to respond and eventually lead one man in the audience to state his desire to see Baltar die. This display of emotion played in Lampkin's favor as it would make the judges wary of giving into the mob mentality. Secondly, he cleverly paints Roslin as a fanatic by proposing that had Roslin been president when the Cylons invaded New Caprica, the entire human race would have been exterminated.

In court, Saul Tigh is questioned, and asked if Baltar appeared to help the resistance in any way. Tigh is noticeably drunk. When questioned about Ellen, Tigh acknowledges her involvement but becomes more withdrawn. Lampkin cross-examines about the NCP initiation bombing and how the resistance attempted to target Baltar. Lampkin continues to question about Ellen Tigh's collaboration by asking Colonel Tigh if his wife was a collaborator, muddying the differences between Ellen Tigh and Baltar. Lampkin points out that Tigh appears drunk.

Lampkin attempts to get Lee Adama to give some insight about Roslin's testimony and Roslin herself, instead of being a passive observer who is simply satisfied in embittering his father. He further attempts to play to Lee Adama's sense of justice by putting him between two difficult decisions. One being the betrayal of Roslin and his father, or putting his words about justice into action by sharing the personal information with Lampkin.