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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Dallas DA Makes Waves by Overturning Convictions

DA makes waves with quest to root out wrongful convictions

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(Newser) – Craig Watkins is becoming famous for something rather unusual for a district attorney: getting people out of jail, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Dallas County prosecutor is painstakingly going through hundreds of convictions secured by his predecessors, using DNA evidence to overturn wrongful convictions. His Conviction Integrity Unit has freed six convicts in the last year alone. One had served 27 years for a murder he didn't commit.

The exonerations have put Watkins in the national spotlight and made waves in the legal world. Critics accuse Watkins of being a "hug-a-thug" DA, and some prosecutors say he is giving the justice system a bad name. Watkins says his quest to correct the wrongs of the past—in a county notorious for slipshod, convict-at-all-costs prosecutions—isn't about publicity, but simply about doing the right thing. "We have the constitutional obligation to seek justice," he said.

Dallas County DA Craig Watkins points towards historical documents connected to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy during a press conference in Dallas, Monday, Feb. 18, 2008.
Dallas County DA Craig Watkins points towards historical documents connected to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy during a press conference in Dallas, Monday, Feb. 18, 2008.   (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins reads from a documen connected to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, during a press conference in Dallas, Monday Feb. 18, 2008.
Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins reads from a documen connected to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, during a press conference in Dallas, Monday Feb. 18, 2008.   (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins poses in his Dallas law office, Dec. 21, 2006.
Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins poses in his Dallas law office, Dec. 21, 2006.   (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez )
James Lee Woodard is shown in this undated photo. Woodard, who spent more than 27 years in prison, has been cleared of a 1980 murder and was released in April this year.
James Lee Woodard is shown in this undated photo. Woodard, who spent more than 27 years in prison, has been cleared of a 1980 murder and was released in April this year.   (AP Photo/ Dallas County District Attorney's Office)
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Many times, you bring these cases to district attorneys and they say, 'You can't go see my file. I won't do anything.' Watkins takes the view that if he can correct a wrongful conviction, that's a good thing. - A director of the Texas Innocence Project

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Reader25229471
Nov 15, 08 2:46 PM CST
Mr Watkins, Thank you, The American Justice System has flaws and it seems that they may not be able to be fixed. This is a step in the right direction. It is nice to see someone who believes in TRUE Justice. Keep up the Awesome job. Hopefully, this will catch on as a pure $ point DNA TESTS cost nothing compared to keeping someone incarnated . I hope that people who complain you are doing the wrong thing, well ask them would you like to see me coming after you have spent 27+ years in prison for something you did not do ? Reply
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Shannonals
Nov 15, 08 6:34 PM CST
"Giving the Justice system a bad name?" Why, because the DA is doing his job? Reply
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Newser001
Nov 15, 08 9:13 PM CST
This is the first DA I've heard of, with a conscious. Reply
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morenogabr
Nov 16, 08 11:45 PM CST
If our country survives the next century, this mans name will be read in the US History books of that time! I applaud! This shows just how much hope we can have... Reply
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