Jewish World Review March 9, 2005 / 28 Adar I 5765

Dan Abrams

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Prosecutors and judges also stand in the line of fire


http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | As of late, Americans have done a better job appreciating how our soldiers, police officers, and firefighters put themselves in harm's way for the rest of us. That's refreshing and I really hope it continues.

But after last week, we should be thinking seriously about adding judges and prosecutors to the list of those we truly appreciate. Federal Judge Joan Lefkow came home Monday night to find the dead bodies of her husband and mother, both shot execution-style. Just last year, white supremacist leader Matthew Hale was convicted of plotting to kill Judge Lefkow.

Authorities have said they're pursuing various leads, but the investigation is clearly centered on followers of Hale. Judge Lefkow is hardly the first judge to be targeted. Prosecutors who take on the worst of the worst also risk reprisal from those criminals they prosecute. These are judges and prosecutors who often gave up the opportunity to make far more money in private practice in order to serve the public good.

In Iraq, no one is under the illusion that being a prosecutor or judge is safe. Also last week, a father and son— an investigative judge and prosecutor in Saddam Hussein's trial, were assassinated, gunned down in Baghdad. Both worked for the special court set up to hear charges of human rights abuses against Hussein. The same day, another judge on that special court was severely wounded.

There's a reason these stories are so important: Violent attacks on judges and prosecutors threaten our justice system and our democracy and that of Iraq as well.

I know these days it's P.C. to criticize judges for rulings that particular interest groups don't like and sometimes, the criticism is deserved. But I fear judges are the new scapegoats used by those who want to politicize everything. And as for prosecutors, if you listen to defense attorneys, prosecutors get the wrong guy in every case.

The vast majority of the judges and prosecutors in this country's courtrooms are doing the right thing and I don't think we sufficiently appreciate the risks they take.

Courtrooms aren't as dangerous as burning buildings or the streets of Iraq— but this week we should appreciate and take note their efforts.

What judges and prosecutors do inside a courtroom can have serious repercussions for them once they walk outside.

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JWR contributor Dan Abrams anchors “The Abrams Report,” Monday through Friday from 6-7 p.m. ET on MSNBC TV. He also covers legal stories for “NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw,” “Today” and “Dateline NBC.” To visit his website, click here. Comment by clicking here.

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