Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Prosecutors not allowed to tell the truth!

Richard CeballosRichard Ceballos was an honest prosecutor. When approached by a defense attorney with evidence that police had lied on a search warrant affidavit, he told the truth. He told the truth in a memo to his supervisors, and when that didn't work, he told the truth as a witness for the defense.


Unfortunately, out in California, they don't appreciate prosecutors who refuse to cover up wrongdoing. Ceballos was ultimately demoted and transferred. Gil Garcetti, the Los Angeles County District Attorney, openly admits that the demotion and transfer was retaliation for telling the truth.


Also, unfortunately, Garcetti's attempt to twist justice did not merit even a slap on the hand from the United States Supreme Court today. In a split decision, SCOTUS ruled that prosecutors do not have 1st Amendment rights on the job.


Most disturbing is the fact that the real issue was not even addressed! Do we want a society where prosecutors can be punished for telling the truth? Do we want a society where what should be the main issue - that of truthfulness by public officials - does not even rate mention by the United States Supreme Court? The Court of Last Resort?


Shame on Mr. Garcetti, and shame on Justices Kennedy, Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, and Alito.

© Dorothy Kernaghan-Baez 2006