DA Johnson a valued partner

To the editor:

I read your article “Bronx DA cruising to re-election” (July 23) and think it is important for your readers to know, from a real-world prospective, what a true partner District Attorney Robert Johnson has been to my office and this community. The DA does not spend all of his time in an office, but is out in the community listening to the needs and concerns of its residents. I represent people in the 47th, 52nd as well as the 50th precincts and have seen the DA at the precinct council meetings for each of these commands. At these meetings, the DA listens and answers questions from almost everyone in the room.

It is also important to understand that many factors, some of which are not in control of the DA, impact conviction rates. Having worked as an attorney in the Bronx courthouse for several years, I can tell you that generally Bronx juries can be skeptical of law enforcement. Therefore, convincing them to convict can be a little tougher than in other counties. It should also be acknowledged that, to his credit, the DA has taken on some very tough cases, like the ticket fixing case. He also played a leadership role in ensuring that veterans and people with mental disabilities are treated fairly in the criminal justice system. I for one appreciate all of DA Johnson’s hard work and look forward to his continued service.