Montgomery County DWI Defense Attorney

Two Interesting news stories can be found in the Houston Chronicle today.

Some prosecutors get walking papers ahead of new boss
First assistant among casualties in house-cleaning
By BRIAN ROGERS
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Dec. 2, 2008, 11:32PM

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6144099.html

and

A cultural exchange for prosecutors?
COMMENTARY
By RICK CASEY
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Dec. 2, 2008, 11:03PM

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/casey/6144075.html

Both of these stories have similar themes and I find it interesting that after 20 years of tolerating illegal and unethical prosecution and prosecutors in both Tarrant and Harris Counties that newly elected District Attorneys have made a platform and been nationally recognized for efforts in curing past behaviors from the offices they now oversee.

Think this only happens in other jurisdictions? Think again. Whenever someone holds absolute power, they can be absolutely corrupt. It usually begins under the guise of bending the rules because they cannot win without doing it.

But that's where the root of the problem lies. When a prosecutor decides that they are judge, jury and executioner, they have crossed the line. Hiding evidence or secreting evidence or denying the existence of evidence that would tend to show someone was innocent is the most vile form of unethical behavior that exists.

If you are on a jury and it is brought to your attention that the prosecutor has engaged in unethical behavior, don't wait for the judge to dismiss the case. Approach the judge and make him or her aware of the problem.

Unethical prosecutors should be in jail and charged with criminal action. They should be disbarred and prosecuted.

To think that someone with a sworn duty to "do justice" would twist their self-righteous attitude into allowing themselves to believe they are actually serving a purpose by cheating, lying and hiding evidence is repulsive.

Someone that is that hell-bent on winning at all costs has no place prosecuting because without the common sense that the job requires, it is only a matter of time until a truly innocent person, you, is prosecuted, convicted and jailed.

That is not what the criminal justice system was designed to do. It is better for 10 guilty to go free than 1 innocent be jailed. I ask jurors about that and they invariably make a joke saying that they don't agree. They think it would be better if everyone accused were locked up - until they or one of their family members is wrongfully accused.

It makes a difference to you if you are the 1 innocent person that gets convicted. That's why at each and every instance we have to follow the procedures and laws and statutes given to use when prosecuting with a healthy dose of common sense.

Maybe some of these revolutionary changes will make their way to Montgomery County with our new District Attorney.

Of course if the same Assistant District Attorney's remain, then maybe not.