Northcutt's skewed judgement makes him unfit to be special prosecutor in Jones-Casada case | Opinion

Jane Osgerby , Guest Columnist Published 8:00 a.m. CT Aug. 12, 2019

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Rep. Cameron Sexton speaks ahead of voting for a new speaker. House Republicans chose Sexton as their next speaker after multiple months of scandal involving Glen Casada Nashville Tennessean

Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcutt’s misuse of his position is enough reason to pull him from Jones-Casada case.

Recently, in the Davidson County General Sessions Court, Justin Jones appeared for his hearing involving charges from former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his motion to request another prosecutor was denied.

Over 75 diverse community members of different races, ages, and from across the state showed up to support Justin.

I was honored to be present in witness among them. The special prosecutor, D.A. Craig Northcott, attempted to turn the issues around and make the case about his own persecution.

Northcott argued that the motion to remove him, for his openness about not upholding the Constitution, was an attack on his “political and theological beliefs.”

I am a 74 year old white female, born and raised in Coffee County, TN. I spent the first 30 years of my life there and my remaining family resides there today. It is also the county where Northcott was elected as District Attorney. His tenure has been mired in controversy and discriminatory statements.

I remain appalled that Northcott continually references that his office is run from his interpretation of the Bible. It is my strong belief that the office of the District Attorney should be operated based on the laws of the United States and the State of Tennessee.

Northcutt’s values don’t include all Tennesseans

I have no issue with D.A. Northcott’s personal right to free speech as long as he does not bring such prejudices into his work as prosecutor for Coffee County and any special assignments he is given. Sadly, he has openly discussed using his role as Coffee County’s chief prosecutor to apply the law to different groups as he sees fit.

For example, he expressed that the Muslim community does not have rights and boasted about not applying domestic violence laws to LGBTQ victims.

I do not know Craig Northcott or any of his family personally. It is with disgust that I have learned of these prejudiced and discriminatory comments that undermine the integrity of our legal system in which I spent much time throughout my career.

Former judge A.A. Birch showed qualities of true public servant

I am retired from the state of Tennessee after working over 34 years for the Dept. of Correction and Board of Probation and Parole. I had the distinct privilege of being assigned to work as a state probation officer in the court of then judge A.A. Birch, Jr., for whom the courthouse is named.

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I know that Tennessee Supreme Court Justice A. A. Birch, Jr. was a champion of civil rights and justice for all people. While I am not a lawyer, I have known and had the pleasure of working with quite a few District Attorneys over many years.

Based on my experiences and education, I am convinced that one who is capable of the level of skewed judgement of D.A. Northcott should not be in a position to influence the basic rights and freedoms of another human being—much less countless numbers of them.

I am concerned that Justin Jones, an African-American student and human rights advocate, cannot get a fair trial if Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott is involved in the case. Northcott should be disqualified from the case and consider resigning from his position as my home county’s district attorney.

Jane Osgerby is a certified Kingian Nonviolence trainer and spent over 34 years working in Tennessee Courts and the Department of Correction. She is originally from Tullahoma, Tennessee but resides in Nashville.

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