tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post8362120730375470953..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Two Tarrant capital cases tainted by prosecutor misconductGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-77334004021618290102009-11-16T11:52:56.683-06:002009-11-16T11:52:56.683-06:00There is a third case that was tainted by prosecut...There is a third case that was tainted by prosecutor misconduct: Diane Michelle Zamora (Navel Academy Midshipman); Prosecutor withheld evidence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-64102273362377304872009-10-04T02:37:22.154-05:002009-10-04T02:37:22.154-05:00Michael Toney was released just a month ago after ...Michael Toney was released just a month ago after spending 10 years on death row because an allegedly corrupt prosecutor, Mike Parrish, secured a conviction based on tainted testimony and withholding exculpatory evidence - a fact that has been admitted by the prosecutor's office. Mr Parrish "retired" as soon as this information became public.<br />Michael Toney passed away yesterday in a car accident. This is just too cosy for the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office. I hope and pray that someone will be brought to account for this shocking miscarriage of justice. Michael Toney deserves some justice in death - he certainly did not receive it in life....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-65027504993281094612009-09-15T14:42:14.423-05:002009-09-15T14:42:14.423-05:00Dude you can't rely on anything John Bradley d...Dude you can't rely on anything John Bradley does up in Wilco as a typical example of the behavior of District Attorney. That man is a deviant even among prosecutors. If that is your basis for comparison it is no wonder you think everyone working for the State is fueled by rage.Karonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-67872738728111437032009-09-15T05:23:39.408-05:002009-09-15T05:23:39.408-05:00But, send Parrish to death row,with
Michael TONEY...But, send Parrish to death row,with<br /> Michael TONEY's death number 999314, he will know it is "only" for 10 years, before GOING OUT, and THIS is THE DIFFERENCE!<br />What about the BILLS to overturn the conviction?the bills paid by the governtment and by Toney's defense committee?<br />How much? do you know? Ask the Att. gal!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-76713310013303951262009-09-14T09:52:00.134-05:002009-09-14T09:52:00.134-05:00There is a *very* easy fix that would take almost ...There is a *very* easy fix that would take almost nothing to implement. The system looks like this: If a prosecutor gets a false conviction against somebody and legally misbehaves during the trial in any way (withhold exculpatory evidence, etc.), then *he* gets to serve as much time in the exact same prison(s) as the victim did when he was exonerated.<br /><br />The problem would end *today* if these creeps knew that their own freedom was on the line. As it is, there's no reason for a prosecutor to follow the law as there are no repercussions for not doing so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-86627635108003171952009-09-14T09:51:56.481-05:002009-09-14T09:51:56.481-05:00Actually, there is a way to punish prosecutors, al...Actually, there is a way to punish prosecutors, although it is difficult to get other prosecutors to violate "professional courtesy." Every time a prosecutor, state or federal, deliberately withholds exculpatory evidence, he or she is charged with "Honest Services Fraud." <br /><br />Since federal prosecutors love to use that statute, why not go after other prosecutors who clearly are acting dishonestly? Now, I know this is fantasy, since American prosecutors have become a law unto themselves, but we can dream, can't we?William L. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01802990642236807359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-62367752740596190542009-09-14T09:47:28.606-05:002009-09-14T09:47:28.606-05:00"My experience with American jurisprudence is..."My experience with American jurisprudence is the prosecutors have absolutely no interest in truth or justice, only convictions."<br /><br />Have you ever read the transcript of the trial of Sir Walter Raleigh? This long predates American jurisprudence.Jerri Lynn Wardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-28304321597865031352009-09-14T08:33:14.371-05:002009-09-14T08:33:14.371-05:00Mr. Shackleford is exactly right. My experience wi...Mr. Shackleford is exactly right. My experience with American jurisprudence is the prosecutors have absolutely no interest in truth or justice, only convictions. When I tried to rescind a "no contest" plea in Florida and go to trial, the State's Attorney opposed it. I asked why they oppose a trial if they were so certain I was guilty. The State's Attorney looked me in the eye and said "we don't have to give you trial."Charlie Onoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1065107274000139952009-09-13T18:17:27.200-05:002009-09-13T18:17:27.200-05:00I prefer Raising the Bar to Law and Order....more ...I prefer Raising the Bar to Law and Order....more realistic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-5643237638523084322009-09-13T12:48:41.200-05:002009-09-13T12:48:41.200-05:00Karo:
I hate that show. My opinion is based on ha...Karo:<br /><br />I hate that show. My opinion is based on having lots of defense lawyers as personal friends. If the folks who go up against the prosecution in wilco every day tell me that da's are conviction motivated, then I believe 'em. Maybe someone hasn't been watching ENOUGH Law and Order.R. Shacklefordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-34522142505652489082009-09-12T01:36:27.759-05:002009-09-12T01:36:27.759-05:00Perhaps it shouldn't be down to just one Judge...Perhaps it shouldn't be down to just one Judge as to whether a new trial takes place when further evidence not submitted at the original trial surfaces?sunray's wenchhttp://silvaculture.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-90196065894309753582009-09-12T01:26:17.080-05:002009-09-12T01:26:17.080-05:00Tarrant county possess high levels of misconduct, ...Tarrant county possess high levels of misconduct, even in the juvenile side. Review the juvenile file, if you can, of Jacob Cobb. A youth who was sentenced to 40 years for the murder of his grandmother. However, the evidence the prosecutor refused to turn over would have exonerated this young man. He currently sits at a TDCJ prison transferred over from the corrupt TYC. Now, how does not only the SBOT, but Tarrant County even remotely think that is judicial fairness? They need to implement the same team that the Dallas county folks did.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-40863536409211480962009-09-11T14:20:33.402-05:002009-09-11T14:20:33.402-05:00Anon 11:53 The goverment has a duty to not violat...Anon 11:53 The goverment has a duty to not violate the constitutional rights of its citizens, even those being prosecuted. As the government's representative the prosecutor has that same duty. The duty the defense attorney has it to his client. That is why there is and should be a different standard. I don't think your post actually said you were another prosecutor but another post seemed to indicate that you are. I am skeptical that you really are though because its hard to believe someone could make it through law school and miss such a fundamental concept.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-10402828210492115262009-09-11T13:35:38.901-05:002009-09-11T13:35:38.901-05:00I wonder if it would be possible for the Feds to b...I wonder if it would be possible for the Feds to bring violation of civil rights charges against someone in this type of situation. Didn't they do that in the Rodney King case?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-72366033171934936402009-09-11T12:32:50.591-05:002009-09-11T12:32:50.591-05:00naive enough to believe that DA's are anything...<i>naive enough to believe that DA's are anything but conviction motivated</i><br /><br />Somebody has been watching too much <b>Law & Order</b>.Karonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-77457194397736239242009-09-11T11:20:17.317-05:002009-09-11T11:20:17.317-05:00I find it hard to credit that anyone can be naive ...I find it hard to credit that anyone can be naive enough to believe that DA's are anything but conviction motivated. If you go into a courtroom thinking right is on your side, so justice is going to be served, you're going to get screwed.R. Shacklefordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-2118052801922365002009-09-11T10:56:08.786-05:002009-09-11T10:56:08.786-05:00I never once suggested there should not be an ethi...I never once suggested there should not be an ethical sanction for prosecutors who fail to abide by legal and ethical guidelines. I guess the "pretty dull" point that I was trying to make is why is it so newsworthy when a prosecutor has an ethical lapse? And yet capital defense counsel seem to get a "pass" from the bar and the media because their unethical conduct is merely considered to be "zealous advocacy,"<br /><br />Prosecutors SHOULD be an unbias'd opponent that gives out evidence in a case to allow a jury/judge that ability to make a fair and honest ruling. Personal opinion has no place in the office of a DA. The idea that a prosecutor can or should interject their beliefs into a judgment of another instead of presenting facts is absurd. Absconding evidence in a CAPITAL case is criminal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-56971880188833204342009-09-11T10:06:46.100-05:002009-09-11T10:06:46.100-05:00Would Parrish's conduct fit within any Texas s...Would Parrish's conduct fit within any Texas statute covering obstruction of justice? An Outsider, just wondering.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-77357186811525092422009-09-11T07:27:24.338-05:002009-09-11T07:27:24.338-05:00The travesties that were conducted by this prosecu...The travesties that were conducted by this prosecutor is something that has been going on since the beginning og our justice system. Look at all of the overturned cases in the state of Texas. With these types of misconduct there should be laws put in place, but as the Supreme Court stated, there is no place for civil litigation or charges against such persons. Like most high-profile positions, there are no laws in place, created, or sanctioned for punishment. Why? Maybe because of the Supreme Court Justices that are in place? Maybe because of senate and congress personal, or maybe because no one really cares until it happens to them. I voted that society needs to DEMAND that these persons in high places be held accountable, and that new laws be put in place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-71125894518421467112009-09-11T04:53:31.578-05:002009-09-11T04:53:31.578-05:00Sadly the only sanctions available to the Texas St...Sadly the only sanctions available to the Texas State Bar will be to fine those responsible or to disbar them. Parrish has retired so being disbarred would not hurt him. The Toney case discredits him anyway and he deserves to have his name dragged through the mire as a cheat, a liar and a completely unethical prosecutorial thug.<br /><br />He must be fined over the Toney debacle and again for the Richardson case. Whatever Judge Herod says, Parrish engaged in attempt at legalised lynching of both.Paul Ameshttp://cease.informe.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-47470264878897096762009-09-11T01:05:46.052-05:002009-09-11T01:05:46.052-05:00Boyness ~ but that's not a good enough reason ...Boyness ~ but that's not a good enough reason not to try. Standing by when you can see something is so fundamentally wrong, and impacts so many lives in such a potentially final way has to be worse than trying and possibly failing in your attempts to make the system better and fairer.sunray's wenchhttp://silvaculture.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-12546904575777137692009-09-10T23:14:24.356-05:002009-09-10T23:14:24.356-05:00Stopping prosecutor misconduct in Texas would be l...Stopping prosecutor misconduct in Texas would be like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500!Hook Em Hornshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660612847019528535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-91628258447075634752009-09-10T18:42:53.044-05:002009-09-10T18:42:53.044-05:00Here is a novel idea...since these prosecutors are...Here is a novel idea...since these prosecutors are not held to a standard that allows real justice to be served, no sanctions, no civil liability. Why not make it criminal liability? Let them go to the same prison units they sent the guy/girl to, and spend the exact number of days/years the convicted spent inside. Make the old saying "what goes around come around" a reality and perhaps this horrible type of injustice will cease. Just and idea...Cheri Lincolnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-16786059697756750482009-09-10T17:21:02.589-05:002009-09-10T17:21:02.589-05:00This situation just goes to show the guys wearing ...This situation just goes to show the guys wearing the white hats aren't always the good guys.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-64124838501299078032009-09-10T17:20:09.910-05:002009-09-10T17:20:09.910-05:00Anon 2:05 Thank you so much for your comment. I ...Anon 2:05 Thank you so much for your comment. I know that most prosecutors are honest and ethical people but unfortunately there are enough bad apples out there to make you all look bad. Prosecutors have enormous power and should be held to a higher standard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com