I look at every case, and if there is evidence to prosecute, I will. It doesn’t matter if they’re popular, unpopular or politically connected. Every single person in Humboldt County is a member of the same community and is held to the same law. Each crime that is committed here is charged according to the law—not vengeance or favor.

The California Commision on the Fair Administraton of Justice concluded that California remains at risk of executing an innocent person.  Are you concerned about the wrongful conviction of innocent people and what wuld you do as District Attorney to minimize this risk?

I defended people accused of crimes in both Federal and State Courts in both trial and appellate courts for 10 years.  To me, convicting an innocent person is an absolute injustice and we strive to avoid such an occurrance, or even the risk of it, in all cases.  One of the procedural protections we have put in place since I took off is we offer any person accused of a crime the opportunity to candidly discuss the circumstances associated with the charges against them under a grant of Use Immunity.  That means we cannot use the statements they make against them.  I believe this provides an incentive for all people, but especially the innocent, to talk to us and reduces the risk of convicting an innocent person.  Another essential check is having open, candid dialogue with defense attorneys about their cases.  We strive to candidly and fairly evaluate any and all evidence the defense provides that establishes legal, factual or equitable issues associated with the case and/or the defendant.

What would your office policy be regarding charging juveniles in adult court?  When would you us your authority to file charges directly in adult court, when would you ask the court to authorize filing charges in adult court and when would you pursue a case in juvenile court?

California law delineates exactly what circumstances must exist for a prosecutor to seek to try a juvenile as an adult.  The goal of the juvenile justice system is twofold: to rehabilitate the juvenile while protecting the community.  The only time that my office would seek permission to try a juvenile as an adult is when the law specifically provides for it and the circumstances associated with the offense(s) and the juvenile are such that the two goals of the juvenile system cannot be met and the only way to meaningfully bring justice is to seek to prosecute the minor as an adult.