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Monday, June 16, 2008
Election Notes: Solicitor General & District Attorney
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, the Solicitor General represents Georgia “…in the trial and appeal of misdemeanor criminal cases (maximum punishment cannot exceed 12 months in jail) in the State Courts.”
Incumbent Leslie Miller Terry completed her promised four-point plan, which included: improving relations between the solicitor general’s office and the community; maximizing prosecution of DUI and battery cases; providing rehabilitation programs for non-habitual offenders; and initiating Clayton’s first diversion program.
“These alternative programs for crime prevention give individuals an opportunity to correct their behavior and life skills, which will enhance their productivity and not create criminals,” says Terry. “We will continue to build and perfect on what we’ve done.” Domestic violence convictions rose 25% during her tenure. “Over the past few years the crime rate has steadily increased.
The effective prosecution of these criminals has diminished during the same period of time,” says Henry (and former Clayton) County Assistant Solicitor General Tasha Mosley, who wants to make Clayton a safe place to live again. “The criminals no longer respect the judicial system of Clayton County. I want to help change the attitude and atmosphere of the Judicial System and once again make Clayton County a pillar of Georgia.”
Since 1999, Mosley serves as assistant attorney coach to the Jonesboro High School Mock Trial Team.
The District Attorney represents Georgia in the trial and appeal of felony criminal cases in Superior Court, delinquency cases in juvenile courts, and serves as legal advisor to the grand jury.
Former assistant district attorney, defense attorney and judge Herbert Adams intends to accomplish five goals when elected.
“I will restore integrity to the district attorney’s office; remove political influence from prosecutorial decision making; end the backlog of cases; reorganize the D.A.’s office to make it operate more efficiently and professionally; and cultivate a cooperative relationship with the board of commissioners and law enforcement to ensure adequate funding and effective prosecution of cases,” says Adams.
“The backlog of cases has become tremendous causing victims’ voices to go unheard, denying the accused their right to a speedy trial and costing the taxpayers millions of dollars,” says 12-year Juvenile Court Judge and former Clayton assistant district attorney Tracy Graham-Lawson. “Mrs. Scott has never tried a criminal case and apparently is not familiar with many of the laws involved in prosecution as too many cases have been dismissed on technicalities.
Prosecutors are ethically bound to seek the truth and are not to be motivated by political goals. Our juvenile court is a national award winning model court. As a public servant I will bring that standard of excellence to the office of the district attorney.” According to incumbent Jewel Scott’s website, achievements made include establishing Clayton’s first Deferred Prosecution Program for non-violent, first time offenders. Jewel’s husband Lee Scott is running for county chairman.
Submit question for the AJC’s Clayton County School Board candidate forum on Sunday
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