Opinion

Federal prosecutors too often work above the law

Thank you for your excellent investigative report on the horror of federal prosecutorial misconduct, documenting how innocent people have been locked up, and inevitably, how real criminals have been left on the loose, because of federal prosecutors who were willing to lie, suborn perjury and hide exculpatory evidence from defendants ("Prosecutors' conduct can tip the scales," Cover story, News, Thursday).

READ ARTICLE: Prosecutors' conduct can tip the scales

One reason this happens is that prosecutors normally cannot be punished beyond the rare penalty of disbarment for malpractice. There are statutory protections. They also cannot be sued by individuals who have had their lives ruined by such misconduct. These laws need to be changed. Prosecutors have far too much power to place themselves above the law.

Also, USA TODAY's article minimizes the issue at the local level. It states that "local prosecutors" deal simply with "routine burglaries and homicides." The reality is that prosecutorial misconduct is at least as serious a problem at the local level, where prosecutors are less well-trained and more pressured than federal prosecutors. Also, some of those cases (serious felonies and murder) can put people away for life or, in at least 36 states, can lead to executions, usually after many years in horrific near-solitary confinement in death-row cells.

Dave Lindorff; Maple Glen, Pa.
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Competitive personalities

In USA TODAY's Special Report: Justice in the balance, Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson is quoted saying that prosecutors are "the A+ students. They're not used to losing."

Perhaps the same inclination to cheat on the job was also present in getting those A+ grades. Someone who has been honest all of his life is less likely to manipulate justice than someone for whom cheating has been a habit for which he had just never before been caught.

Perhaps a closer look at law schools is indicated.

A. R. Leonard; New Orleans
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Apply uniform standard

Congratulations to USA TODAY on the brilliant investigation into the misconduct of federal prosecutors. Were criminal defense attorneys to conduct themselves similarly, they likely would face criminal sanctions themselves.

As long as federal prosecutors can engage in misconduct with impunity, they will have no incentive to conform to the legal and ethical standards that apply to the rest of the legal community.

USA TODAY's investigation confirms this.

Daniel D. Connor; Columbus, Ohio

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