Former Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins, known for his work in overturning wrongful convictions, died Tuesday, a representative for his family confirmed. dallas morning news. He was 56 years old. In 2008, Watkins governance This year's civil servant award.
(Michael Ainsworth/Dallas Morning News)
Watkins, a Dallas native, became Texas' first black district attorney when he took office in 2007, defeating longtime defense attorney Toby Shook. He rode a wave into the presidency following a surge of Democrats who won overwhelmingly in court elections.
“Craig's call for office was stronger than the conventional wisdom that Democrats can't win in Dallas County,” said Jane Hamilton, who served as Dallas County's campaign coordinator in 2006. This approach served as a model in Texas and across the nation. Craig's legacy lives on. ”
Watkins was re-elected once, but lost to Republican former judge Susan Hawk in 2014. During his tenure, he created the Conviction Integrity Unit and authorized DNA testing in cases fought by his predecessor, leading to about two dozen trials. Exonerated.
Watkins frequently stated that a prosecutor's job is to “pursue justice,” not a conviction. news He selected Watkins as the 2008 Texan of the Year.
After leaving office, Watkins entered private practice as a defense attorney.
“National Blueprint”
Dallas County District Attorney John Clouzot said in a written statement that Watkins is “smart and ambitious” and “dedicated to his focus on prosecuting child abuse cases and creating the nation's first Conviction Integrity Unit.” '', he said, and left a powerful legacy.
According to the Dallas Attorney's Office website, the division is nationally and internationally recognized and is “dedicated to reviewing cases involving actual claims of innocence,” as well as cases related to claims of innocence or systemic errors. It is also reviewing cases of wrongful convictions. Although it works closely with the Innocence Project and law enforcement agencies when reviewing cases, it remains under the direction of the prosecutor's office.
“Craig was the perfect person, and the more people who knew him, the better suited he is,” Clouzot said. “I was proud to know him, work with him and be elected to the same office he held. He will be missed.”
Heath Harris, Watkins' first assistant prosecutor, told reporters Tuesday afternoon that Watkins' position as Texas' first black district attorney gave people hope and motivation.
Harris is the attorney representing Lisa Dykes, who is on trial this week on murder charges in the high-profile murder of Seattle woman Marisela Botero Valadez. Court adjourned for the day after Harris said he had received a large number of emails from people about Watkins' death.
“That was my brother,” he told reporters outside court, with tears in his eyes. “Craig didn't just talk about it, he took a stand.”
Harris said Watkins was not afraid to do unpopular things, which was a “huge part” of his accomplishments, but he also fought for people, especially the wrongfully convicted. He added that the stress took a toll on him.
“He was very courageous in trying to change the criminal justice system,” Harris said. “What he did here set the blueprint for this country.”
the death penalty was personal
Although Watkins was conflicted about the death penalty, he still sought it. During his first six years in office, from 2007 to 2013, he sent more defendants to death row than any other district attorney in the state. Historically, Harris County, which includes Houston, has sent more people to death row, but during this period Dallas County sent 12 people to death row compared to nine in the larger county. being sent to prison.
In 2012, Watkins revealed that his great-grandfather was executed by the state, although he did not provide details. He made this statement out of the blue after a hearing to acquit Richard Miles, who was wrongly convicted of murder.
His great-grandfather, Richard Johnson, was executed on August 10, 1932. His Associated Press article from October 1931 said: news Johnson said the jury deliberated for 40 minutes before handing down the death penalty in the murder of Fort Worth man Ted Nordarft. The murder occurred just over a month before the trial.
Johnson was the father of Watkins' grandmother, Milesa Clark.
“I realized it when I was a kid,” Clark, 85, said at the time. news In February 2012.
Asked what happened to his father that inspired his grandson to one day become Dallas' top prosecutor and work to free innocent people, Clark is too emotional to talk about it. I answered that I could not.
“I'm so upset that I'll have to talk to you later,” she said.
Later that month, Watkins witnessed the execution of George Rivas, the ringleader of the prison breakout group that killed an Irving police officer during a robbery. He left the witness room without comment.
“If it wasn't for Craig Watkins, I might still be in prison.”
Michelle Moore said working as a defense attorney in the Conviction Integrity Unit was “a great part of my career.” Moore said Watkins included a “public defender, which is most unusual of all,” and she contacted the Texas Innocence Project.
“As someone who was already doing DNA research, I had to fight tooth and nail,” Moore said. “Even if the DNA test results show that the person is not the person, [charged or convicted], we still have to fight for their innocence. So all of a sudden, it wasn't where we were. Suddenly we started looking into the case. ”
Moore recalls how Watkins ensured transparency in the case.
“He suddenly became interested in not hiding information from the defense,” Moore said. “It may sound crazy, but it's something we had to fight for and I respect and appreciate what he did in that respect.”
Mike Ware, executive director of the Texas Innocence Project, said Watkins hired him during his first term to run the prosecutor's office's Conviction Integrity Unit along with local attorney Terry Moore. Together, their efforts led to the release of approximately 25 innocent men who were wrongly convicted, he said.
Ware said Watkins showed courage and foresight in pursuing this effort, which was unprecedented in the prosecutor's office at the time.
“At the time, it was an unknown concept,” Ware said. “This is basically a concept that we invented. …He had the political and moral courage to do it.”
Ware said Watkins had a “significant positive impact” on the criminal justice system in Dallas and across the country during his two terms in office.
Christopher Scott was exonerated by Watkins' Conviction Integrity Unit in 2010 after spending more than 12 years in prison for a 1997 murder he did not commit. Since his release, Mr. Scott has worked to free those who may have been wrongfully convicted or sentenced to far too long prison terms.
Scott said Tuesday that Watkins had a chance because his acquittal, along with his co-defendants, was the first in Dallas County without DNA evidence. Scott said Watkins visited him in prison and asked him if he had committed a crime.
“No, it's not,” Scott said.
Watkins told Scott that he believed in him.
“If it wasn't for Craig Watkins, I might still be in prison,” said Scott, who has seen Watkins frequently since the day Watkins apologized in court for his wrongful conviction.
Scott said he had recently talked with other suspects about having dinner with Watkins. But that never happened.
high and low
Watkins graduated from David W. Carter High School in 1986, according to his LinkedIn profile. According to his LinkedIn profile, he earned a degree in political science from A&M University in Prairie, Texas, and then Fort Worth, Texas.He earned a juris doctorate from Wesleyan University School of Law. .
Although he became known nationally for his efforts to prove innocence, his tenure as the county's top prosecutor was also highlighted by an FBI investigation. No charges were filed.
He is also suspected of misusing civil forfeiture funds.
Most recently, on November 7, a Texas attorney sentenced Watkins to a one-year suspended sentence. He was still eligible to practice law. According to court documents, Mr. Watkins did not apply for criminal immunity for his client, Earl D. Jackson, who hired Mr. Watkins in March 2022 and paid him $2,500.
Harris, a former top prosecutor in Watkins' office, said he hopes people remember “all the good things” about Watkins and the sacrifices he and his family made.
“It's hard to cope with everyday life when you have high levels of conditions that are affecting people's lives,” Harris said. “There are crowds everywhere you go. The crowds are screaming right now.
“Even though they’re not yelling anymore, I hope they never forget the impact he had here in Dallas County.”
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