Recent occurrences in the legal fraternity have again brought the issue of entangled ethics and elitism in the sector to the fore. A case exemplifying this involves Sandra Doorley, a Monroe County District Attorney.
A collaboration between the police and District Attorneys (DAs) to evade the law, while shambolic, is quite prevalent. A recent report lends credence to this information. However, this unfortunate, yet bizarre incident seems to amplify the audacity of such uncalled compromise of justness.
Sandra Doorley committed a traffic violation by driving 55 mph in a 35 mph zone. An officer, upon detecting the offense, attempted to pull her over, but instead of stopping, she continued driving. Reachly her residence, she admitted her speeding violation yet refused to pull over on the road. Instead of simply complying with the officer’s instructions, Doorley took the imprudent step of calling the police chief, asking him to command the officer to abstain from action. The incident details are sourced from a report on KTOK.
Upon interrogation, Doorley even exercised her position of power over the officer, compelling him to call a superior to the scene. She continued using her position to influence the situation, generating uncomfortable and unjust pressure on the officer.
Such incidents are indicative of a bigger malady in the system, a manifestation of entitlement bred by the power dynamics between the cops and the DAs. Doorley’s refusal to pull over and her following engagement with the officers implies a presumption of exception from the rules that govern the public, reflecting serious concerns about ethical practices.
A video of the incident can be viewed via this link.
Following the incident, both the public and the law enforcement community demanded an apology. Complying, Doorley issued an apology, displaying an overt admittance of her wrongdoing and a commitment to amends. She paid the ticket and even referred the case to a different district attorney to mitigate any bias accusations. The public apology is further reported in a KTOK article.
Apart from Doorley’s violation and subsequent backtracking, which serves as an important tale of legal ethical compromises and redemption, there is a need to establish stronger frameworks for reevaluating and redefining the boundaries of power and accountability within the legal field.