I am a public defender and former assistant district attorney. I have worked with and consider myself a friend of Julia Hejazi. I am amazed at the comments of so-called supporters of Hejazi regarding her dismissal. They cannot have spoken with her because I know that she would be the first to espouse the importance of loyalty and unity in the work of prosecutors.
I’m sure she would say that there are 28 prosecutors in Guilford County, many, if not most, of whom are as, if not more, experienced, talented and dedicated as Julia. Julia was given the choice to forgo politics and remain an ADA. She chose to seek higher office. The others chose to remain.
This race should not be about one prosecutor but about the direction the office will take. I know Julia would also say that whatever differences she may have with Doug Henderson politically, he is anything but selfish or political. He was faced with an employee who was going to work to put him out of his position. Most district attorneys would not have offered her a choice.
John Nieman
Julian
Comments (6)
The logic is undoubtedly there, and yes, there are very capable prosecutors in the office. It is simply unfortunate that circumstances seem to dictate Julia is no longer in a position to help those whom she fought so diligently for. I'm sure her cases will be picked up by other talented ADAs, continuances given to compensate, etc. and the frequency of justice realized will remain largely unchanged. She was an asset to that office and the citizens of Guilford Cty - particularly women and children. Your point is well taken, but her integrity and tenacity will be missed.
Posted by JEC![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blog.news-record.com/staff/letters/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 12, 2006 9:06 AM
Someone help me here. Is it routine practice for prosecutors to allow sex offenders to plea bargain probation instead of jail time, and are there specific judges who allow that kind of thing in their courtroom?
Posted by hugh![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blog.news-record.com/staff/letters/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 12, 2006 9:55 AM
Hugh, gotta weigh in on that and say that during the time I spent in the courthouse, I saw plenty of offenders bargain their way out of the hot seat due to a great number of variables: the defense attorney, evidence, the victim/witnesses not showing up (or any number of other issues), the judge on the bench.... It's not an easy job and sometimes the results just plain suck - I watched a permanently disfigured kid (victim) and his family, along with the witnesses (well known, honorable citizens) stare slack jawed as the kid's attackers nonchalantly sauntered out of the courtroom with their attorney after one of our district court "judges" completely blew it. Justice is blind - sometimes deaf, sometimes dumb. Sometimes you just do the best you can with what you have at hand.
Posted by JEC![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blog.news-record.com/staff/letters/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 12, 2006 10:49 AM
JEC, if there is any misjustice that needs correction it the sex offender/plea bargain issue.
I think it needs to be made THE campaign issue in the upcoming election. I don't care who is running I will vote for the DA choice whom delcares war on sex offenders. Party affiliation is irrelevant.
Posted by hugh![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blog.news-record.com/staff/letters/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 12, 2006 11:27 AM
sex offender? what the heck does that even mean? why not just call em a pervert like they are?
sex offender could mean adulterer, fornicator, porn addict, or just about anything else. pervert pretty much means pervert. child molestor is another term that is pretty clear.
Posted by yellowdog![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blog.news-record.com/staff/letters/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 12, 2006 4:36 PM
yellowdog, where you been?
Posted by hugh![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blog.news-record.com/staff/letters/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 13, 2006 12:10 PM