Salacious Accusations by Rackauckas of Bias in Dekraai Case

News

March 13, 2018

On Record For The First Time, Rackauckas Slams O.C. Justice System Accusing Judge of Bias In The Case of Orange County’s Worst Mass Murder

Orange County – March 13 – In bewildering statements by the District Attorney – the first time on record since the sentencing of Orange County’s worst mass murderer, Scott Dekraai, – Tony Rackauckas slams the Orange County Justice System accusing veteran Judge Goethals of bias. The statements were filmed on Saturday, March 10 at The California Impact Republican’s endorsing convention.

Rackauckas implied that Judge Goethals, who removed the death penalty from the case, never intended to be fair because his son had been denied a job at the District Attorney’s office. Judge Goethals kicked Rackauckas off the Dekraai case because of prosecutorial misconduct and the illegal use of informants in a decision that was upheld by the Court of Appeal. The audience is led to believe by Rackauckas that even more bias occurred because of friendships between members of the Court of Appeal and Judge Goethals. Despite these salacious accusations against the Orange County Justice System, Tony Rackauckas never appealed the sentence. An ethical District Attorney who believed alliances between the Judge and members of the Court of Appeal had clouded judgment on a case would immediately appeal the sentencing for the case to be brought to the Supreme Court and for justice to be properly served to the victims’ families.

After the meeting concluded, The California Impact Republicans unanimously voted to endorse Todd Spitzer for District Attorney.

Click here to view the first video of Tony Rackauckas’ statements:

https://youtu.be/fh9sKKD5ZOo

3:14

Rackauckas blames the media for coining the phrase ‘snitch scandal’:

“Now you’re talking about this informant issue that you’re referring to as a scandal and I really think that is a very serious exaggeration. Not by you because you are pretty much talking about what the reporters had to say…and that sort of thing. But that’s highly exaggerated.”

3:53

Rackauckas questions Judge Goethals’ intentions to conduct a fair trial:

“Taking a serious look back on that case and seeing all the things that happened and the road that we went down, I have serious questions about whether or not that Judge had intended to be fair about the death penalty in the first place.”

Click here to view the second video of Tony Rackauckas’ statements:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU_VlpbGh5M&feature=youtu.be

0.00

Rackauckas makes a reference to Judge Goethals’ son who was denied a job at the District Attorney’s office. The statement insinuates that the Judge disrupted the case to seek revenge on Rackauckas for denying his son a job.

“I can’t allege that’s why this happened, but that’s there.”

0:14

Rackauckas describes alliances between Judge Goethals and the Court of Appeal:

“As far as the Court Of Appeal, they’re social friends… Judge Goethals and the different members of the Court Of Appeal – they’re socialites…do dinners in each other’s houses and such.”

*** End of video citations ***

Judge Goethals pulled the death penalty from the Dekraai case because of Rackauckas’ dereliction of duty as District Attorney and his illegal use of informants. Goethals stated, “If this case had been prosecuted from the outset by the Orange County District Attorney within the most fundamental parameters of prosecutorial propriety, this defendant would likely today be living alongside other convicted killers on California’s Death Row in the state prison at San Quentin.” By removing the death penalty, Goethals said he was protecting, “the rule of law and the integrity of the criminal justice system.” State appellate justices affirmed Goethals decision, calling the misuse of jailhouse informants “real” and “systemic.”

Todd Spitzer responded to the statements saying, “The Judge’s words on the record speak for themselves. It is shocking that Rackauckas has now come forward with these allegations which will likely re-open the wounds of the victim’s families who have already suffered six long years of delays because of Rackauckas’ misconduct.”

He continued, “Rackauckas has been in office for 20 years. This breeds corruption, complacency and a public failure of leadership. 20 years is long enough. Any experienced prosecutor would engage in a serious self-evaluation of himself and his prosecutors after such a devastating loss. To blame the trial Judge and the reviewing Court of Appeal justices of conspiracy to obstruct justice is simply the ultimate sign of a failed politician fighting for his career.”

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