Under the law, prosecutors are supposed to pursue justice and not only seek convictions.
by Steven Greenhut
Reason.com
My latest experience with jury duty highlighted some of the well-known flaws in how our system determines an accused person’s guilt or innocence. I was close to being impaneled when the judge asked whether any of us had previously dealt with district attorneys. I’m perfectly willing to serve on a jury, but answered honestly despite knowing the likely result.
As a newspaper writer, your honor, I’ve interviewed prosecutors when covering D.A. scandals and police-misconduct cases, I said. Within moments, the prosecutor announced that Mr. Greenhut was no longer needed. As I walked out, I turned to him and said, “Good call.” People chuckled. I found it less funny that most of the potential jurors that seemed thoughtful and independent-minded also were rejected for one reason or another.