I would agree.
Just like it could be said cynically that a jury is made up of 12 people who are too dumb to come up with a reason to get out of jury duty, it could also be said that a Prosecutor is an attorney not good enough to be hired by a defense law firm.
One of the problems is that prosecutors are evaluated on their conviction rate, not the rate in which the guilty party is brought to justice. A prosecutor wants any conviction of anyone.
When it becomes accepted that most cases end on a plea bargain, it becomes easier for the prosecutor to overcharge, intimidate witnesses, and generally lie in order to manipulate the defendant into accepting a plea bargain. If the defendant is poor and can't afford an equally unethical lawyer, all the better for the conviction record of the prosecutor.
Being that prosecutors are agents of the government and are representing the "people" (what ever that means these days), they have to be held to a higher standard and actually suffer consequences for their misconduct.
Definition of Perjury: When someone, other than a lawyer, lies in court.
How often to we read about cases where the prosecution withheld evidence, suppressed witnesses, and flat out lied to the jury? Too many times. But I seldom read about prosecutors being indicted. The worst that seems to happen is that they are asked to resign so they can then write a book.
If a defense attorney pulls a fast one, a guilty person may go free. If a prosecutor pulls a fast one, an innocent person may go to prison.
Which is the greatest risk to our society?
Well, speaking as a law abiding citizen, I am much more afraid of an unethical prosecutor. Hence, as a law abiding citizen, I expect the government to hold prosecutors accountable. With no, or little, accountability, what is governing a prosecutor's actions?
09-24-13, 05:23 PM
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