Video: Dallas DA says his job is to seek justice, not just convictions

10.30.07

At a speech in New York City yesterday, Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins said “it’s easy to get on television and tell someone you’re going to be tough, but a hard concept is telling your constituents you’re going to be smart on crime.”

Innocence Project Co-Director Barry Scheck joined Watkins at the panel discussion, hosted by the Drum Major Institute, calling Watkins’ work in Dallas “historic.”

Watkins, elected in 2006, is the first African-American District Attorney in Dallas history. He created a Conviction Integrity Unit to review possible past wrongful convictions. Dallas has had more wrongful convictions overturned by DNA testing than any other county nationwide.


Watch a video of Watkins at yesterday’s event

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Read more about yesterday’s event on the Drum Major Institute blog

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View photos from yesterday’s event on Flickr

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