I hope the good people of Dallas County know how lucky they are. They have a District Attorney who is more interested in honesty and justice, than in making himself look good and racking up courtroom victories at any cost.
Since his election in 2006, Craig Watkins (pictured above) has let it be known that the Dallas County DA's office is not interested in convicting innocent people or fighting to uphold past convictions of innocent people.
This may sound like common sense, but it is amazing how many District Attorney's fight the release of inmates when new evidence shows they are innocent. They are more interested in protecting past convictions than releasing innocent people.
Watkins has created a Conviction Integrity Unit, which reviews cases where DNA evidence was not used and investigates accusations of prosecutorial misconduct. His office has exonerated more wrongfully-convicted people (14) than any other county in the country.
Recently, it was discovered that the State Bar had suspended Watkin's license to practice law. It was not for any kind of misconduct -- he had simply forgot to pay his license renewal fee. He has now paid the fee.
But Watkins did not try to blame others or make excuses. He just owned up to his mistake. Watkins said, "As I have always maintained, this office is going to be open and up front about everything, including mistakes. I apologize to the citizens of Dallas County and accept full responsibility for this payment oversight, and I will make sure that this does not happen again."
It almost makes me wish I lived in Dallas County, so I could vote for this honest man when he runs for re-election.
Of course he is a stand up kind of guy he is very respected here in Dallas. NOT!!! Or have you not checked into this guys past. OK he forgot about his renewal fee but what about the 14,000 dollars he forgot to pay to the phone company and the Southwestern Bell had to take Mr. Watkins to court before he would pay up. City of Dallas has sued Watkins over his loan from the South Dallas Fair Park Trust Fund. In 2002, Watkins was delinquent on his state business taxes that added up to $4,956. In 2004, he was delinquent on federal business taxes and penalties that totaled $16,207. In December and January, the IRS filed liens for three years worth of delinquent income taxes to the amount of $99,000, But an examination of court records and other documents by WFAA-TV and The Dallas Morning News shows that Mr. Watkins recently faced almost $100,000 in liens for failing to pay taxes, and small-business owners and the city of Dallas have repeatedly had to take him to court before he agreed to pay bills. In January, the Internal Revenue Service placed a lien on Mr. Watkins' home in a dispute over $25,343 in unpaid income taxes. A similar lien was filed in December for $73,787 in income taxes owed for 2002 and 2003. People can believe what they want about this guy but, you just go ahead and keep believing in him!!
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