[Peace-discuss] re write-in for states atty

[Karen Medina]

Laurie Solomon wrote:
>  where you ever got that notion of what the State’s
> Attorney is suppose to do or who they are suppose to represent

>From Julia Reitz herself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-2Hijgkg5Y



On Tue, Mar 20, 2012 at 4:05 PM, Laurie Solomon <ls1000 at live.com> wrote:
> Karen,
>
> I have to ask you where you ever got that notion of what the State’s
> Attorney is suppose to do or who they are suppose to represent.  First, the
> names that are or are not used  to name  that position and office as well as
> the functions of that position and office will and do vary from state to
> state.  In some states, they are called District Attorney in others they are
> called Prosecuting Attorneys.  Moreover, their functions and duties may vary
> such as to result in a lack of any necessary identity or equivalence
> between the functions and duties of State’s Attorneys and/or Prosecuting
> Attorneys and/or District Attorneys when one looks at different
> jurisdictions.
>
> Secondly, The State’s Attorney does not and is not supposed to represent the
> citizens per se; it does and is suppose to represent the State as manifested
> in and by the corporate entity which is the government of the county that
> the State’s Attorney is elected in and, only by virtue of this, its
> citizenry as a whole.  Counties like municipalities as organizational units
> are creatures of the State and are not sovereign entities as are states.
> Thus, their authority is derived from the State and the extent of that
> authority and independence is defined by such laws as “Home Rule” laws
> passed by the state and articles of incorporation which determine the
> corporate nature of that unit of government and its government.   While they
> represent the interests of the State as an entity and their counties as
> local governing bodies when it comes to investigating and prosecuting
> violations of law (civil and criminal), to the enforcement of administrative
> policies and rules as well as monitoring that they are in line with the
> State’s laws, policies, and rules, and  to the offering of legal opinions to
> local governmental officials and bodies within their jurisdiction, they are
> not intended to serve as defense attorneys or advocates for individual
> citizens or on the behalf of private interests as contrasted to public
> interests.
>
> From: Karen Medina
> Sent: March 20, 2012 1:49 PM
> To: Peace-discuss List
> Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] re write-in for states atty
>
> The State's Attorney has also been asked to rule on the complaints of
> excessive use of force by the police.
>
> In court, the State's Attorney's office is supposed to be acting on the part
> of the state. The office is supposed to stand for the citizens of the State
> of Illinois for the county in which they are assigned. Standing on the side
> of the police is not representing the people.
>
> -karen medina
> * Note that many State's Attorney's offices wait for a minor to turn into an
> adult before charging them. This is probably not unique to Champaign County,
> but it seems to be used more often with African American youth than white
> youth here.
>
>
>
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-- 
-- karen medina
"The really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." - Mark Twain