Published: May 03, 2008 07:58 pm            

Don’t let reporting taint justice system

As a citizen and a practicing attorney, I must express of my concern over The Times' recent coverage of the Cullman County courts. In the past several weeks there have been numerous lengthy, front-page stories concerning pending criminal cases. Each one has included very detailed reporting of information reportedly received from the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office.

However, since officers are seldom, if ever quoted, the articles read more like a simple re-statement of documents prepared by law enforcement regarding the preliminary investigations into these matters. The stories have included the locations of the alleged events, the results of police searches, a cataloging of the evidence, purported "confessions" and even considerable information about an underage victim. All of this is highly inappropriate coverage of any pending case. While the press certainly has a right to provide information to the public, the presentation of investigative reports as though they were proven facts is damaging to both the prosecution and defense of criminal cases.

I assume that the majority of your readership resides in Cullman County. This is also the location of the entire jury pool in criminal cases. To expose potential jurors to "facts" that may or may not be admissible at trial only serves to taint that pool, giving any defendant just cause for seeking a change of venue for a trial. Regardless of our best intentions, it is difficult for anyone to completely disregard information that has been previously presented, especially when it has been presented in the manner used by The Times.

I have noticed that in no article has there been any mention of the accused's defense or even that he has attorney. I must assume that this is either because you have no interest in presenting a balanced story, or (the more likely explanation) that the defense attorney rightly refused to comment on the evidence in a pending case.

Having worked as a prosecutor for many years, I have great respect for the work of our local law enforcement agencies. However, I have even greater respect for our justice system and it pains me to see it undermined by irresponsible reporting. Each one of us has certain rights that are guaranteed to us under the Constitution. Those rights are never more important than when we stand accused of a crime. Please let the system do its work — for all of us. That is the only way that justice can be done.

Sara Baker

Cullman

        

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