Prosecutorial Independence & Prosecutorial Discretion

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Earlier this year, in February 2024, the ABA launched its Prosecutorial Independence Task Force.  Two of our guests, Professor Ellen Yaroshefsky (Hofstra Law School), and John Choi (Ramsey County Attorney in Ramsey County, Minnesota), are co-chairs of the Task Force.  John has the distinction of being the first Korean American Chief Prosecutor in the United States.  Our third guest, J. Charles (“Charlie”) Smith III, is the State’s Attorney for Frederick County, Maryland, and is the longest serving State’s Attorney in Maryland.  Charlie is also a member of the ABA Taskforce on Prosecutorial Independence, as well as the Chair of the Board at the National District Attorneys Association.