David Leavitt Leads the Fight Against Plea Bargaining

  I'm much for David Leavitt over Sean Reyes for Utah attorney general, and let me tell you one reason why: Plea bargaining. Leavitt doesn't like it. He wants to reform our social justice system.
  Think of it, the Constitution calls for a trial by jury. Leavitt speaks of how when writing that great document, our founders didn't give up this part of governing, instead reserving to themselves, the people, the right of making decisions in court cases.
  Back in those colonial days, plea bargaining was rare, though there are reports of witch trials in which accused witches were told they would live if they confessed, but would be executed if they did not. Being's how we already know witch trials were often on trumped up charges, and were poor examples of justice, we should not be surprised that those trials were one of the first places where plea bargaining was to be found.
   Plea bargaining started seeping into America's courtrooms in the 1800s, and then began to gain real footage in the 20th Century. Still, the practice was largely considered inappropriate until the late 1960s. How about that? You might not have known it was so recent.
   And, today, about 50 years later? The great majority of all cases are plea bargained -- the great, great majority.
   Of all candidates for offices all across this land of America, I wonder if there is one standing so staunchly against plea bargaining as is our own David Leavitt here in Utah. This is a chance to revert our government back to the principles of the Constitution and to make Utah the lead state where it happens.
    If you are a constitutionalist, voting for Leavitt will serve you well. On the flip side, it also serves you well if you are for social justice. Those accused of crimes often are pushed to confess even when they are not guilty because it is made to be the easy way out. That isn't right. You shouldn't be pushed into a conviction you might not be guilty of.
   Think of it: Just in the last 50 or so years have we fallen to this. Now comes a candidate for attorney general who is fighting against the practice. How can we not support such a person with our vote?