To the Editor:
What is incredible to me in Ms. Uhe’s response to my editorial is that she didn’t respond to it! Instead, she lashed out personally at me and attacked my career as a prosecutor. I often told juries that defense attorneys turned to personal attacks against witnesses in criminal trials when they did not have the facts on their side. This is exactly the situation here.
I was shocked when I read the news stories about the reduction of Mr. Kwayera Jackson’s sentence. I became very angry, not at the Madison County State’s Attorney, but at our Governor for allowing such action. It was not until Mr. Haine demanded through legal means the paperwork associated with Mr. Jackson’s request and released that information, that I learned of the horrible misjustice perpetrated by the State’s Attorney’s Office by not responding to Mr. Jackson’s appeal.
Never did a Governor, Democrat or Republican, reduce a violent offender’s sentence when it was opposed by that Office. By failing to do so, Mr. Gibbons and Ms. Uhe indicated to the Governor their lack of interest in the matter and an acquiescence to the reduction. Ms. Uhe then tried to further cover up her mistake by saying there was a standing objection with the Parole Board; The Parole Board indicates that is false and she has not produced such a document.
These are the facts!
This has nothing to do with sour grapes over a lost election. In that election I promised changes to the (State's Attorney's) Office as it exists to become responsive to the community. I would be turning my back on my supporters if I now suddenly supported the same system I wanted to change! And that change is clearly offered by Tom Haine.
Susan Jensen, Glen Carbon