News release from District Attorney Todd Williams:
Yesterday’s Supreme Court’s decision in Glossip v. Oklahoma reinforces the importance of prosecutorial accountability and ethical conduct. Buncombe County D.A. Todd Williams was the sole active North Carolina prosecutor to join an amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court. The brief underscored the critical need for prosecutors to uphold their duty to seek justice without “cheap tricks designed to skirt clear responsibilties.”
The Supreme Court’s decision addresses the issue of prosecutorial misconduct and the profound impact it can have on the integrity of the criminal justice system.
The Supreme Court granted Richard Glossip, an Oklahoma death row inmate, a new trial after both the defense and prosecution agreed his 2004 conviction was undermined by suppressed evidence and false testimony.
D.A. Williams joined a coalition of legal professionals in filing an amicus brief highlighting the importance of upholding the highest ethical standards for prosecutors. The brief emphasized that prosecutorial misconduct not only undermines public trust but also has devastating consequences for individuals wrongly convicted.
“My participation in this brief reflects this Office’s unwavering commitment to ethical prosecution,” D.A. Williams added. “It is heartening that the Supreme Court’s decision directly addressed the kind of prosecutorial misconduct that has all too often challenged the integrity of the justice system.”
Key Points of the Supreme Court Decision:
The amicus brief filed and signed by D.A. Williams and others may be found here.
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