THE D.A.s AND WHAT KIND OF POWER
THEY YIELD.
>> ONE D.A. CALLS THEM THE
GATEKEEPERS TO THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
ALL EYES TURN TOWARD THE ONE
OFFICIAL ON THE QUESTION OF
WHETHER POLICE, FOR EXAMPLE,
WILL BE CHARGED IN SHOOTINGS.
DISTRICTS PLAY A PROMMENT ROLE
IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
ELECTED OFFICIALS, RUN FOR
OFFICE EVERY FOUR YEARS, OFTEN
GO UNCHALLENGED.
ONLY FOUR SEATS CONTESTED IN THE
2020 GENERAL ELECTION.
THESE RACES LINE UP WITH
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND
PARTISAN OFFICES.
THE CURRENT BREAKDOWN IS 41
REPUBLICAN D.A. AND 23
DEMOCRATIC D.A.
ALSO SEVEN INDEPENDENT DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS.
ALL TOLD, THAT'S 71 D.A. IN EACH
WISCONSIN COUNTY, SHAWANO AND
MENOMINEE SHARING A SINGLE D.A.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND THE
ATTORNEYS ON THE STAFF FUNCTION
AS STATE AND COUNTY OFFICIALS.
THE STATE PAYS THEIR SALARY, BUT
THEY ARE VOTED BY COUNTY.
AND COUNTY PAYS FOR THEIR
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.
BROAD AUTHORITY TO DECIDE
WHETHER TO BRING CHARGES.
FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
SHIRLEY ABRAMSON, THE PROSECUTOR
HAS GREAT DISCRETION IN
DETERMINING WHETHER TO COMMENCE
A PROSECUTION.
IT IS THE PROSECUTOR'S DUTY,
THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO
PROSECUTE ALL CASES IT APPEARS
THE LAW IS VIOLATED.
THIS MEANS DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
CAN BROADLY DECIDE WHICH CASES
THEY PROSECUTE.
LAST YEAR IN KENOSHA, FOR
EXAMPLE, MICHAEL GRAVELEY
DECLINED TO PROSECUTOR THE
OFFICER WHO SHOT JACOB BLAKE,
SAYING HE WAS UNLIKELY TO WIN
THE CASE IF GRAVELEY TOOK IT TO
TRIAL.
>> IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A CASE YOU
CAN PROVE BEYOND A REASONABLE
DOUBT AS YOU HEAR ME TALK ABOUT,
THEN YOU ARE ETHICALLY OBLIGATED
NOT TO CHARGE A CASE.
>> IN DANE COUNTY, THE D.A.
DETERMINED THE OFFICER WHO SHOT
AND KILLED TONY ROBINSON DID SO
LAWFULLY.
>> TRAGIC AND UNFORTUNATE DEATH
WAS THE RESULT OF A LAWFUL USE
OF DEADLY POLICE FORCE AND THAT
NO CHARGES SHOULD BE BROUGHT
AGAINST OFFICER KENNY IN THE
DEATH OF TONY ROBINSON, JR.
>> EVEN THOUGH BIG CASES,
INCLUDING POLICE SHOOTINGS
ATTRACT THE MOST PUBLIC
SCRUTINY, DECISIONS D.A.s HAVE
TO MAKE LARGE AND SMALL, DAY IN
AND DAY OUT.
ABRAHAMSON CALLED THEIR ROLE
QUASI