Integrity in Dallas

Three of the top administrators in Dallas are leaving the District Attorney's office.

http://www.law.com/jsp/tx/PubArticleTX.jsp?id=1202496736775&Three_Prosecutors_Leaving_Dallas_District_Attorneys_Office&slreturn=1&hbxlogin=1&slreturn=1

What I find interesting in this article (and yes, I'm totally ripping off another attorney's comments from our email chat group) is:

“The good thing about all three of them is they knew this time would come. They groomed folks to take their place, and we have a wealth of talent,” Watkins says. “I hoped this day wouldn’t come, but it did. And we have to move forward.”

and

Watkins says he has not yet decided on who will take over for Moore as his first assistant. “That’s going to be a hard decision. I’m still trying to make that decision,” he says.

So they groomed people for their spots, but Watkins doesn't think the chosen groomed are the right folks. Maybe they should look back at the five or so prosecutors that have "left" in the last two months. One or two of them were excellent at their positions.

Also, Ware claims he came to the DA's office with Watkins so he could start the "Conviction Integrity Unit".

Ware oversaw the creation of the Conviction Integrity Unit, a first-of-its-kind division within the DA’s office that worked with the Innocence Project to review cases of convicted defendants from Dallas County.

However, this work has been going on in Dallas since 2001. ( http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/DN-dnaexonerees_23met.ART.State.Edition2.192fe4ce.html) Watkins was elected in 2007. He and Ware named the unit and made alot of press with that name, especially after partnering with the Innocence Project and seeking national attention and speaking opportunities. Never mind that the work had been going on for 6 years without demanding accolades or praise.

The longer I work in Dallas County, the more I think the wrong candidate won the election last November.