Prosecutor Lied and Goes Unpunished by the Law

For John, BLUF:  People experience this abuse by the State and resent it.    Here is something for the City Life Host to be outraged about.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Law Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds has an opinion piece in USA Today today.  The Headline is "Prosecutors protect themselves first".

The sub-headline is "When prosecutors lie and falsify evidence, 'absolute immunity' protects them from justice."  The lede.

When you're charged with a crime, you're in a tough spot.  As soon as charges are filed, you're faced with the necessity of either (1) negotiating a plea bargain, which means you'll plead guilty to something or other; or (2) going to trial, where you risk a much more serious conviction if the jury doesn't believe you.  Facts are often confused.  The prosecution has access to law enforcement for its investigations.  You'll have to pay for yours.

It's a big enough challenge when everybody plays things straight.  But what about when you've got a prosecutor willing to lie?  Then things are worse.  And given that prosecutors often face no consequences for misconduct, it's not surprising that some are willing to lie about it.

This about a California case, The People v. Efrain Velasco-Palacios.  The prosecutor, a Mr Robert Murray, faked a confession and embedded it inside a larger statement signed by the defendant, and then apparently did a Rose Mary Woods, and erased part of the tape.

Yes, the word you are looking for is OUTRAGEOUS!

And Mr Murray is immune from being sued.  Which is even more OUTRAGEOUS!  And the accused perp, Mr Efrain Velasco-Palacios, may have actually been guilty, but we will never know.

And, we face the fact that the Federal Government can lie to you, to coerce something from you, but you dare not lie to the FBI or some other agency.  That, sir, would be a criminal act.♠

What recourse does the public have?  Apparently the only recourse is to vote out all the people in the State Legislature, in hopes of having some common sense written into the law.

Hat tip to the Instapundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Which is why you need a lawyer.