The Politics of Prosecution | Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams

The Overlook with Matt Peiken

The Buncombe County District Attorney’s office prosecutes dozens of cases every week, from capital murder to trivial infractions. But DA Todd Williams seems at least a bit frustrated by the public’s lingering interest in what, on paper, resulted in guilty verdicts for misdemeanor trespassing. Some are holding up the charges as veiled attacks on freedom of the press.

Williams, in his 10th year helming the office, talks in depth with me about the charges leveled at two people who produce work for the online media outlet The Asheville Blade. That dovetails into a larger conversation about the news media and the conduct of journalists. We also talk about the importance of his department’s relationships within the Asheville Police and with judges, along with the application of prosecutorial discretion.
00:00 A Surprising Encounter at the Polls: DA's Political Involvement
01:45 Exploring the Political Nature of the District Attorney's Role
04:08 The Intricacies of Relationships in the Legal System
06:27 The Aston Park Case: Journalism, Law, and Public Perception
18:07 Navigating the Complexities of Journalism and Law Enforcement
21:15 The Evolution of Cannabis Laws and Prosecutorial Discretion
22:52 Reflecting on a Decade in Office: Changes and Challenges
25:28 The Relationship Between the DA's Office and APD
27:08 Embracing New Media and the Future of Court Systems

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