Prosecutorial Misconduct
I'm not here to dispute the facts of this case but I'm here to tell you that some of the people involved in it have been unfairly judged and the reason you should care is that this could happen to anyone.
We are in a connected era, and news rapidly spreads nationwide. Prosecutors’ claims often receive wide airplay and are perceived as inherently credible. Today, merely being charged with a crime can be devastating. Prosecutorial attacks on defendants’ character not only hinder said defendants’ constitutionally-guaranteed right to a fair trial, but are ruinous to their reputation. Many people have been impacted or even committed suicide under a presumption of innocence, but you’d never know it from the statements on the matter by U.S. Attorneys one recent example is Aaron Swartz. Claims of the innocence or guilt of those accused of crimes belong in courts of law, not press releases and media interviews. I hope you people write to your congressman and senators that U.S. Attorneys serve their mandate as protectors of justice, rather than scoring political points by attacking the character of innocent people with trumped up charges.
Bar prosecutors from making official statements as to the guilt of any person, or asserting facts of the case that would reasonably negatively prejudice people as to the accused’s guilt or innocence. Establish a regime of meaningful penalties for violations, and an appropriate process for relief: injunctive relief; dismissal of cases or enjoinment of future charges; statutory civil liability; and professional penalties like removal from office or disbarment are in order. I understand that protecting prosecutorial independence is important, and I am careful to allow for that in my request. Ultimately, I believe some infringement upon the liberties of prosecutors — people professionally responsible for the administration of justice and held in high regard nationwide — is warranted to protect the due process rights of the accused, and for us to understand that accused criminals are still human beings with rights to be protected.
Please take the time out to really wrap your head around these words
Signed a concerned citizen
AI
