Stories

Did elected prosecutors’ campaign messaging compromise the appearance of justice?

Davina Hurt, director of government ethics, said the public might be understandably confused about why a district attorney would be violating any boundaries by promoting his office’s prosecution of a case, since their charging decisions signal their belief in guilt.

But while prosecutors pursue charges and convictions, she said, they are still obligated to pursue cases objectively, which includes pulling back charging severity, negotiating plea deals for lesser charges, or reaching nonconviction resolutions when the facts and circumstances justify it.

Davina Hurt, director, government ethics, quoted by The Mercury News.