Another likely innocent man faced execution . . .

[Mr. Deez]

. . . and this time it's too late.

http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015...l-misconduct-in-case-of-man-executed-in-2004/

So how long do we keep this up before we reform the criminal justice system?

(Note to Horn6721 - Yes, I recognize the irony that I'm using a link to a Breitbart story.)

 

[Giovanni Jones]

Here's a link to the John H. Jackson story at Slate. (Just for balance)

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_...john_jackson_charges_corrupt_prosecution.html

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

Seems to me if a prosecuting attorney or two whose misconduct led to an unjust execution were to be executed themselves, we'd see a lot less misconduct in a real big hurry.

 

[NJlonghorn]

That skimmer-diving dog never ceases to crack me up. Best signature ever.

 

[NJlonghorn]

Seems to me if a prosecuting attorney or two whose misconduct led to an unjust execution were to be executed themselves, we'd see a lot less misconduct in a real big hurry.

Execution may be a tad harsh, but a decade or two in jail would be fine by me. I suspect overzealous prosecutors don't do well in jail.

 

[Larry T Spider]

Depends on the level on misconduct to me. If the issue was a minor procedural one, then I would be fine with a day or two. Withholding major evidence to send an innocent man to death row should warrant a major punishment.

 

[Mr. Deez]

Depends on the level on misconduct to me. If the issue was a minor procedural one, then I would be fine with a day or two. Withholding major evidence to send an innocent man to death row should warrant a major punishment.

At this point, we're having to hold a trial just to get the guy away from practicing law. That needs to be the beginning of the punishment, not the end.

A few things should be done. First, a jailhouse informant's testimony that a defendant admitted to a crime should not be sufficient evidence to support a conviction, whether it's a death penalty case or not. It just isn't reliable enough, and the reasonable doubt standard is meaningless if that kind of evidence is enough.

Second, prosecutorial immunity should be completely abolished. If you're involved in clear misconduct, you should face criminal and civil liability. You have to make bringing such a case tough. You don't want every thug in prison suing his prosecutor. However, if there's clear, intentional misconduct that leads to a wrongful conviction, the prosecutor should have to answer for it and pretty severely.

Third, from a criminal standpoint, prosecutorial misconduct needs to be treated as a serious offense. The fact that Ken Anderson got off so light in the Michael Morton case is a disgrace. How much trouble one gets into should be based on how serious the underlying charges are, but this kind of thing goes to the heart of the integrity of our justice system. That's a big deal. I don't care if you're engaging in misconduct in a traffic ticket case, you should get off light. I wouldn't throw you in the slammer for 20 years, but I would end your career.