To Seek Justice: Defining the Power of the Prosecutor

The job of a prosecutor is not just to seek convictions but to seek justice. So when reports emerge of prosecutors abusing their power, it can shake public confidence in the entire justice system. Reformers argue that prosecutors exercise too much power with little or no oversight. Defenders of the current system argue that prosecutors work tirelessly to keep people safe from criminals and that abuses are extremely rare.

Seven experts, Jessie K. Liu, Mark Geragos, Steven H. Cook, John Malcolm, Zac Bolitho, Bennett L. Gershman, and Clark Neily, discuss and define the power of the prosecutor in this documentary short by FedSoc Films.

OFFICIAL SELECTION
2020 Richmond International Film Festival
2019 Best Shorts Competition
- Award of Excellence
2019 Alexandria Film Festival

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no particular legal or public policy positions. All opinions expressed are those of the speaker.

Experts (in order of appearance):

Learn more about Jessie K. Liu:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/meet-...
Follow Jessie K Liu on Twitter: @USAO_DC
https://twitter.com/USAO_DC?lang=en

Learn more about Mark Geragos:
http://www.geragos.com/attorney-profi...
Follow Mark Geragos on Twitter: @markgeragos
Twitter: markgeragos

Learn more about Steven H. Cook:
https://fedsoc.org/contributors/steve...  

Learn more about John Malcolm:
https://www.heritage.org/staff/john-m...
Follow John Malcolm on Twitter: @malcolm_john
Twitter: malcolm_john

Learn more about Zac Bolitho:
https://directory.campbell.edu/people...

Learn more about Bennett L. Gershman:
https://law.pace.edu/faculty/bennett-...

Learn more about Clark Neily:
https://www.cato.org/people/clark-neily
Follow Clark Neily on Twitter: @ConLawWarrior
Twitter: conlawwarrior

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Differing Views & Related Links:

Prosecutorial Discretion: Leeway for Prosecutors in Decisions About Criminal Charges
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encycloped...

Department of Justice: Prosecutors
https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/...

Prosecutorial Fallibility and Accountability
https://www.cato.org/events/prosecuto...

The Theory Of Prosecutorial Discretion In Federal
Law: Origins And Developments
https://law.yale.edu/system/files/are...

Disbarred Duke lacrosse prosecutor Mike Nifong is back, along with more misconduct allegations
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/t...

Duke Prosecutor Jailed; Students Seek Settlement
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/08/us...

The Dangerous Myths of Drug Sentencing “Reform”
https://www.naausa.org/site/index.php...

The Dangerous Myths of NAAUSA: A Response to the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys’ Paper Titled “The Dangerous Myths of Drug Sentencing ‘Reform’”
https://famm.org/wp-content/uploads/2...

The Dangerous Myths of Drug Sentencing “Reform”: A Response to FAMM
https://www.naausa.org/site/index.php...

The Federal Prosecutor
https://www.roberthjackson.org/speech...

Mental Culpability and Prosecutorial Misconduct
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.c...

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Credits:

Directed by Matt Wood
Executive Producers: Matt Wood & Daniel T. Richards
Produced by: Noah Bradon & Tim Hedberg
Written by: Elizabeth Claeys
Associate Producers: Alex Yershov, Ann Hartley, Samantha Schroeder, Jenny DeMarco
Director of Photography: Jacob Schwartz
First Assistant Director: Colin J. Mason
Editor: Colin J. Mason
Grips: Anthony Pilon & Jacqui Ris
Gaffers: Chris Franklin & Brandon Habuda
Production Assistants: Chris Mannix & Huiying Wang
Animation: Anthony Pilon
Sound Design: Colin J. Mason
Additional Research: Jacob Schwartz
In Association with Motivo
A FedSoc Films Production

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