Posted: April 13th, 2016

How much authority should assistant district attorneys be given?

1) How much authority should assistant district attorneys be given? As licensed attorneys should they be given a large amount of discretion to dispose of cases based on their best judgment or should they have more limited authority so that the office employs a uniform policy?

2) If you had been arrested, which would you rather have: a private lawyer or a public defender? Why? And, would your answer change depending on whether you were guilty or innocent?

3) Which method of judicial selection (election, appointment, or merit selection) do you think is best? What does your choice reveal about your personal attitudes? Stated another way, do you think the legal profession should have more say in judicial selection (merit) or less influence (elections)?