Craig Watkins

Craig Watkins, originally uploaded by Lindsay Beyerstein.

Scott Horton has well-deserved props for Craig Watkins, the Dallas County DA who is making a name for himself by helping to exonerate the wrongfully accused.

Horton says the Obama administration should consider Watkins a model when appointing the next crop of U.S. Attorneys. I couldn't agree more. I'd would add former Travis County DA Ronnie Earle to the list of exemplary prosecutors--public servants who understand that their role is to seek justice, which doesn't end with prosecuting the guilty, nor even with exonerating the innocent. The goal is to build a criminal justice system that is sensitive and selective enough to recognize the difference.

Comments

[Cass]

"Of course, there are a number of prosecutors who are riled up about Watkins. They think he’s giving the criminal justice system a bad name by showing that it misfired. These are precisely the sort of prosecutors whose indifference to justice is causing our system to rot from within."

I sometimes think this is one of the basic definitions of the conservative impulse: maintaining the status quo, our collective illusions and the peasant class's idealization of authority is far more important than any other consideration, even an innocent person's life. You could see this logic in conservative reactions to the Church sex scandal, the Dreyfus affair and Watergate; and you can see it just as well in any small town or neurotic family when it emerges that dear Uncle Jim beats his wife, or has been molesting every child in sight. Its the first person to tell the truth who becomes the target of community stone-throwing.

[Paul L.]

From Wiki
Earle filed charges against Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, then Texas State Treasurer, for allegedly misusing state telephones and allegedly assaulting a staffer. Earle attempted to drop the charges on the first day in court — in fact, at the pre-trial hearing — after the judge in the case questioned the admissibility of his evidence. The judge refused to allow it, instructing the jury to return a "not guilty" verdict so the charge could not be brought against her again

By that standard, I am guessing that Lindsay's list of exemplary prosecutors include Mike Nifong, Nancy Grace and Wendy Murphy.

[Eric Jaffa]

Paul L. -

A judge shouldn't stop a prosecutor from dropping a case when there is bad evidence, or tell the jury how to vote.

The passage you quote seems to indicate a bigger problem with the judge than with the prosecutor.

[Paul L.]

So Eric you support a prosecutor abusing their authority to drag someone to court only to drop the charges when his case is reviewed.
The prosecutor does not have to go before a judge to drop charges.

[B-Money]

Actually Paul, a prosecutor DOES have to go before a Judge to drop charges. An order must be entered, and guess what? Only a Judge can sign an order. A Judge cannot question the Prosecutor for dimissing the case, as proceeding with prosecution is a decision left solely to the prosecutor. But the Judge's role is necessary.