• originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com
    34·
    8 months ago

    If the decision is not overturned, a state agency that advises Georgia prosecutors would be tasked with finding a prosecutor unaffiliated with Fulton County to take on the matter — a move that many believe would ultimately lead to the case being dismissed

    ahh yes, a loophole that many poor defendants abuse

    /s

  • themeatbridge@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    33·
    8 months ago

    Judges Trenton Brown, Todd Markle and Benjamin A. Land — the three judge panel appointed to review the case… “While we recognize that an appearance of impropriety generally is not enough to support disqualification, this is the rare case in which disqualification is mandated and no other remedy will suffice to restore public confidence in the integrity of these proceedings,” the order read.

    I dunno about you, but I do not feel like Trenton Brown, Todd Markle, or Benjamin Land have restored any confidence in the integrity of these proceedings.

  • Avid Amoeba
    27·
    8 months ago

    This ought to boost people’s confidence in the judicial system.

  • Rottcodd@lemmy.world
    24·
    8 months ago

    We’re really speedrunning this whole autocracy thing, aren’t we?

    “The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it’s profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater.” - Frank Zappa

    • Zak@lemmy.world
      11·
      8 months ago

      She should have recused herself from the case and handed it over to a colleague as soon as word of the affair became public.

      What she should have done is not hire her boyfriend for a high-profile special prosecutor role, or not start dating her high-profile employee, depending on which timeline is accurate. She put one of the most important criminal prosecutions in the history of the country at risk for the sake of her personal life.

    • BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world
      2·
      8 months ago

      Unless there’s something in the laws of GA or Fulton County this doesn’t add up. So at worst it’s favoritism. Who does that harm? The defendant? Probably not and if anything it could make the prosecution less effective if Willis and Wade spent too much time rekindling their romance or fighting over passed mistakes. Does it harm the taxpayers and citizens of Fulton? Maybe. Investigate! If she skipped over viable alternatives or declined better attorneys because of her relationship then remove Wade and reprimand Willis. If this was a clear violation of her duties she would’ve been gone months ago. This is all about “inappropriate behavior” and if nobody can point to the affect this behavior has had on the case then their basically punishing her for the affair.

        • BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world
          2·
          8 months ago

          Some of the money used to fund the prosecution was used on travel expenses and hotel rooms for the purposes of helping to cover up the affair.

          If any of this is illegal under state or County law by all means give her the boot. That doesn’t seem to be what anyone is saying though. “Conflict of interest” and “impropriety” are seemingly the worst she’s guilty of.

          It only takes a few simple questions. Did she fail to meet specific criteria when she hired Wade as special prosecutor? Was she required to disclose prior conflicts of interest or ones that formed during the course of the indictment? Did Wade make unauthorized purchases with the fees he was paid? Were the rights of the defendant violated? Is there any evidence their relationship has diminished their efficacy in prosecuting this case? If none of these answers are “yes” then it’s 100% about optics. If any of these are a “yes” then this should’ve been settled months ago.