Topic: How's the Prosecuting Attorney Doing?

[02Tundra]

I haven't seen any articles or threads on here since Debra Hopper took office last year and was curious as to how she has been doing as our new Prosecuting Attorney.  I was hoping that no news is good news, because we need some good things to talk about when it comes to our County Government.

[cowboy]

How log until the next election.   Maybe we can get a good PA for a change

[soso]

ooops  that don't sound good...

[matrsnot]

Don't write any bad checks.

[02Tundra]

quote author=cowboy link=topic=6313.msg66311#msg66311 date=1199478269]
How log until the next election.   Maybe we can get a good PA for a change
[/quote]

Not until 2010.  I think she was elected in 2006 for four years and she took office Jan 07.  So, it sounds like your not pleased with her. Does anyone else have anything to share concerning the PA.  Reason I asked is before she took office the old PA was in the paper all the time for this or that and I just haven't seen any of that since she took over last year.  I was hoping that meant she had been doing a better job!
 

Don't write any bad checks.

So is she death of bad checks?  Well, I guess she should be, because a lot of folks seem to write them around here.

 

[LadyofLaquey]

Are you asking about the "non procescutor"?  What do the people of this County expect when they voted for a Family Law Attorney rather than one who has experience in Crimimnal Law.  Too many people will vote for a "local" rather than for the candidate who is better qualified. 

I have read a lot of post on this site from people who have retired to this area.  They have made this their home now and have the best interests of the County in their hearts, but because they are not born and raised here or able to trace their roots back for 2 to 3 generations, they get nowhere when it comes to running for office.  So we continue to have nothing but the "good ol' boy" mentality going on. 

[cowboy]

I thought the PA was a military transplant and got voted in by all the military because she was an ex-JAG officier.  It was the good ol military mentality.

I agree we needed someone with criminal experience and there was such a candidate but there was a big issue about residency even though he was willing to move. Our loss for another 4 years.

[OLDigahmah]

I thought she had criminal experience in JAG as a prosecutor.  I remember going to a Ministerial Alliance meeting where she and the other person running (I have forgotten his name) both spoke to the alliance.  She talked like she would be very tough on criminals and would get the cases prosecuted instead of letting them set for a long time.  Not having any experience with the courts I don't know how she is doing, but that was her promise.

[paloha2]

talking about voting....remember Feb 5th and come out and VOTE!!!!

[ShowmeHillbilly]

I have seen her in court. (my sons accident she is prosecuting, and my brother and his girlfriend got into it and they hit each other but she got the worst of it and she prosecuted him) I cant say either way?
I believe she is doing her job in some sense of the word. But as far as trying to speak with her, her returning calls, trying to get info on a situation your involved in she isnt too great at. I am sure its because she is so busy. Not sure?
I do know she was doing family law and worked at Jag. I have heard she is better than the last person we had. But I would rather have someone with criminal experience be in there because its criminal acts that she is prosecuting.
I guess I watch to much law and order. Stuff dont work like that in real life.
 

[Yankee Trader]

Ask a deputy for an opinion.....or any police officer in the county for that matter.

[crazy horse]

Many of our government officials are not from here. Both recent sheriff's are not. The county clerk is not. The PA is not.

[LadyofLaquey]

Guess I was talking without knowing.  I just moved here and don't know much except what I have been hearing.  I still don't think she is all that good from what I been hearing.  You all need tougher laws like Texas.

[02Tundra]

I've had zero contact with the PA and was just curious as to what other's thought about her performance on the job.  I guess it's not really as good as I had hoped for. 

[bigedd]

Speaking as one with more experience with her than I want, I think she is up to the task.  As many of you may recall, I am involved with last years arsons.  Ms. Hooper is prosecuting the culprit to the fullest extent of the law.  My dealings with her make me think she is more than qualifed for the task.  I think the commissioners and she have some budget beefs, but what else is new.

[Inside Out]

Well I know she is doing a fine job on the cases i'm involved in. Just hope I don't die of old age before it's done and over with but thats not the current PA's fault.

[02Tundra]

That's good to hear, thanks for your input.

[cowboy]

You want to know how is she doing just look at the front page of the DG the case filings are way down and the only thing that has changed since last year is the new PA.   If you do nothing it easy to stay under the radar.  Mybe its time for an AT WILL firing.

[meforme]

Maybe the cases filings are down, cause the police and deputies are too busy, patrolling to keep crime down.  After all Meth labs are decreased.  I think they call that the trickle down effect.

[Yankee Trader]

I'm told there is an interesting story in the DG tomorrow.

[blissfullybusy]

I think anytime a new PA takes office the initial year is spent just trying to figure out the logistics of the office.  It'll go back up.

[cowboy]

I think if you had read last weeks article you would find you statement is not supported by facts.  Even the part time PA ,new on the job, was doing double.  truth is she can't cut it  she needs to go.  When you see her in church pass it on.

[County Resident]

If you walk a few miles in her shoes, you'll see that she's in the office at 6:00 a.m. and there until 8:00 p.m. or later working, and works 7 days a week.  Attorney Hooper has lots of cases that were from the last administration that she's prosecuting.  Attorney Hooper is in court almost every day prosecuting cases, and as she is very THOROUGH in her job; she does not go home until she is ready for court the next day.   She could just dismiss a lot of cases and be on her way home; however, because she wants to give the citizens of Pulaski County (including active and retired military) a better community to live in, she's working extremely hard to get all of the "good ole' boy" criminals (who have been walking the streets for years getting by with committing one crime after another) off the streets!  She recently sent someone to prison for 5 years for shoplifting at Wal-mart.  Isn't that what this community wants?  A safer place to live?  She's a very tough attorney and just want Pulaski County needs!  She doesn't cut deals just to get rid of a case, and she just won't file a case just because it will bring in revenue.  Attorney Hooper is all about what's right and just.  She's determined to ensure that the interests of Pulaski County are served.  When you're new on the job, are you expected to know everything when you start?  Of course not!  Give her the same courtesy.  When she started, she had to organize the office (which was a disaster), hire staff, and try to figure out what was going on, besides jump right in and prosecute cases she didn't know anything about.

[Coyote]

She recently sent someone to prison for 5 years for shoplifting at Wal-mart.  Isn't that what this community wants?  A safer place to live? 

I don't really need to be safe from shoplifters...Good Lord...what did the person shoplift???  Now we pay for them to go to prison for 5 years?  No.  JMO, but I don't think that's exactly what the community wants.

[County Resident]

Do you know what the background of that person was?  Maybe that person had a history of shoplifting and stealing and gotten away with it time and time again.  Don't you know that everytime someone shoplifts from a business it costs money?  And guess what?  It is passed on to YOU -- the consumer.  Don't you know that if someone gets buy with a small crime, they gradually work up to bigger and bigger crimes?  Don't you know that if that person had gotten away with that crime, maybe the next thing would be armed robbery or even murder.  It could have been one of your loved ones.  You know, I was taught that as Christians we are to love one another, and be tender-hearted towards each other.  So I would say to all Christians, "He that is without sing among you, let him first cast a stone at her".  How about being more supportive of her, encouraging her, and praying for her rather than persecuting her.  How about telling her when you see her "in church":  "Hey, Sister, I appreciate all you do, and I'm praying for you."

[matrsnot]

How about if she quits blaming everyone except herself?  Previous PA's I can accept.  Quit blaming the police because she doesn't have her ducks in a row. It is her job to get those results back form the lab, not the police.  They did their investigation.  They turned it over to her.  In the paper, she attempted to shift all responsibility to others and used excuses I heard while in the military.  Sure it is human nature to do some of this, but not blame it all on everyone else except the person having ultimate responsiblity

[matrsnot]

PS.  I thoroughly enjoyed her rant at Ransdall though.  Shows gumption on her part and makes him look like a real weasel.

[fish]

she called me one time at 7 pm to testify in a court case. she wanted to make an example of a deadbeat dad.

[Seaside]

Oh Please!!!!!  Every prosecutor that comes in has to deal with the cases that the previous prosecutor dealt with.  "Attorney Hooper is in court almost every day prosecuting cases, and as she is very THOROUGH in her job; she does not go home until she is ready for court the next day. " You sure couldn't have proven this to me by what happened on the 9th.  She was so unprepared the Judge walked off in disgust.  > My attorney said that the Judge called all the attorneys in her office and chewed them out for not being prepared and when they walked out Hooper just laughed.  If you go on casenet and start putting in case numbers starting with 1 you will find that there are a lot of criminal numbers that don't show up.  I've been told that this is because they have been moved to the "closed division" for one reason or another, so apparently Hooper is dismissing a lot of cases.  Her not filing cases just to bring in revenue, as was put, is going to cost this county a lot.  People are going to start losing their jobs because the revenue has taken a drastic drop.  Hooper needs to get off her butt and start doing her job or she needs to step down and let someone in who knows how to get the job done.   

[cowboy]

Wait till you see today's DG the PA put herself in for a raise which she said is state law.  Well everyone remembers the pay raise that the elected officials voted last December.   Do you also remember that none of them will get the raise during their term in office.   In other words you vote a raise for your replacement.   Well it seems the PA thinks it owed her and in spite of a letter from the laywer for counties shes says the county will pay.   Now this is your elected great legal mind at work that doesn't even understand state statues.