Scattershooting Again

Scattershooting Yet Again
(1/8/98)

Scattershooting yet again:

Last time I suggested that Diane Zamora could possibly be convicted of the lesser included offense of "simple murder" instead of capital murder. That theory was, however, shot down in flames when trial judge Joe Drago refused to let the jury consider that option - a ruling that the defense team cited as one of the cornerstones of their appeal. With comments from the jury after the trial that their decision "wasn't difficult", I'm sure the prosecution is now wishing that the judge would have (hopefully) erred on the side of caution and submitted that alternative. The conviction would be the same, and the issue would not be the subject of an appeal. Then again, hindsight is . . .
Nothing is more frustrating to prosecutors than the current ad campaign of Attorney General candidates promising to be "tough on crime". (Barry Williamson is a prime example). The AG's job is essentially one involving civil law whose only involvement in criminal prosecution comes when a local D.A. requests his assistance. This occurs so rarely that only 10 of the 600 lawyers in the AG's office are involved in criminal prosecution. I'm glad the candidates are law enforcement minded, but that fact is essentially irrelevant to the position they seek.
Monica Lewinsky's mother became ill while testifying before Kenneth Starr's grand jury last week. As correctly noted in the media, there is no privilege protecting a mother from revealing the content of any private conversations she might have had with her daughter. Nevertheless, the practice seems to do more harm than good, and most prosecutors would never call a mother into a grand jury room for such a purpose. I assume that Kenneth Starr's lack of practical experience excuses his transgression into this area.
Everytime you worry about crime in the United States, consider the constant blood bath in Algeria. It is estimated that 65,000 have been slaughtered in that country over the past six years. I'm no foreign affairs expert, but if I'm in charge of this Middle East government, I start looking for oil, find it, and then turn to the U.S. for help.
Yvonne Gonzalez, former superintendent of Dallas I.S.D., said she accepted a 15 month federal prison sentence to "prevent further turmoil" in Dallas public schools. Hey, you've already stolen from the taxpayers, you needn't lie to them as well.
With the annoucement that the Dallas Cowboys will use Wichita Falls as the site for their training camp next August, has it dawned on Wise County residents that the parade of high priced cars will go through Decatur via 287? Michael Irvin at Grandys? Eric Williams at Taco Bell? The "crime rate" jokes are too easy and too cheap. I'll pass.

Barry Green is the District Attorney for the 271st Judicial District.