Lawyer Criticizes Court Donation Program
April 13, 2006
A lawyer in Washington has criticized the Benton County District Court, in Kennewick, Wash., for cutting deals with defendants who face misdemeanor charges in exchange for their making hefty donations to a charity designated by the prosecutors, The Seattle Times reports.
The complaints have prompted investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Washington State Bar Assocation over possible legal and ethical violations.
Kennewick’s city attorney, John Ziobro, defends the donation idea as a way to give people with “spotless, or near-spotless records” a break when charged with a minor crime, such as speeding.
