The San Benito County Bar Association will meet today to
consider attorney Bill Marder’s request for a vote of
”
no confidence
”
in District Attorney John Sarsfield.
The San Benito County Bar Association will meet today to consider attorney Bill Marder’s request for a vote of “no confidence” in District Attorney John Sarsfield.
There is no question: the members of the bar should cast a yes vote, urge support for the recall effort against Sarsfield and or call the State Attorney General to investigate. Sarsfield has made a mockery of the administration of justice in San Benito County.
Unfortunately, there are no elected political leaders in San Benito County who have come forward to publicly say they think Sarsfield should resign. That’s disappointing. The public wants politicians who stand by their convictions and say what they think must be done. Unfortunately, they have been too timid so far to take a public stance on the District Attorney and the job he is doing.
Now, however, the members of the local legal profession have a chance to speak collectively in a leadership role and recommend a proper course of action.
We encourage the bar association to send a clear message. The continual political feuding that is miring the wheels of justice in this county must stop. The conduct by the District Attorney confirmed by a county investigator found in the District Attorney’s office – that Sarsfield retaliated against his own employees for political purposes; that he was openly contemptuous of women in his office; that he demoted an experienced deputy district attorney to handling misdemeanors; that he took resources away from the Victims Witness office needed for the sensitive nature of its work – makes him unfit for the position. The pressure tactics Sarsfield uses against his “enemies” could perhaps be grounds for malicious prosecution and certainly fall within the parameters of abuse of power.
In spite of mounting pressure, Sarsfield’s recent actions, and his failure to address issues raised in a county investigation into his office, appear to show he has no intention of resigning. He will burn San Benito County’s house down before admitting his own mistakes and misconduct.
A firm stand by the local bar association will perhaps coax other community leaders to publicly call for the only remedy that will cure what ails the justice system in San Benito County: John Sarsfield must resign as district attorney or be summarily booted from office in a swift and decisive recall vote. Having the local bar association make that point publicly will go a long way toward restoring justice, civility and peace in San Benito County.
