Does justice always require a conviction?

Imagine being wrongfully convicted of a crime you did not commit and then wasting away in jail for 27 years of your life. Then imagine being released from jail but placed on a sex offender registry, being unable to find employment and unable to vote. This is what happened to Thomas Haynesworth, a man wrongly convicted of two rapes. Mr. Haynesworth served 27 years in prison and his good name was tainted, even though he was innocent. As Attorney General, Cuccinelli worked hard to get this man his exoneration and freedom in 2011. He even employed Mr. Haynesworth.

As a defense attorney, I resonate with Ken Cuccinelli when he explains: “An Attorney General’s job is not convictions. It’s justice. And today, we got justice.” Police officers and prosecutors would do well to remember that their job is to promote justice, not convictions.

Check out the video below: