Moral Convictions in the District Attorney's Office

Throughout my campaign, I have talked about the importance of electing a principled attorney to serve as Cobb District Attorney. I have detailed for every Cobb County resident I talk to what my principles are and why they will help me make sure that I do the job of District Attorney better than anybody else. 

I have the passion and experience to make sure Cobb County is kept safe. My mission is to defend the victims of crime from further harm by putting violent criminals behind bars where they belong, and thousands of residents have expressed their support in this vision.

It is important for candidates to demonstrate their principles, not just in words but in actions as well. As a prosecutor, I defended the victims of crime against further harm from their abusers. I protected families and children as the lead prosecutor of the Criminal Domestic Violence unit and Crimes Against Children unit. 

One of my most memorable cases involved waiting outside a pediatric neurologist’s office at Scottish Rite Children's Hospital at 6 a.m. to gather evidence in the prosecution of a man who brutally abused his stepdaughter. That small child, who more than anything needed an advocate to stand up and protect her, got every ounce of energy I had to make sure he was convicted for his crime. In the end, a jury convicted him of his brutal crime, and justice was served. She never has to fear that man again.

As a private attorney for 14 years, I’ve also made a commitment to never take a death penalty case. My principles dictate that seeking the death penalty for the most heinous and violent of criminals is not just an issue about crime and punishment. Seeking the death penalty is a moral issue because it strikes at the very heart of defending the value of human life in our justice system. 

The death penalty is not a punishment that should be sought lightly but rather a punishment that makes a firm commitment to holding murderers accountable for their actions. I knew when I left the prosecutor’s side of the courtroom to stand on the other side as a private attorney, I would one day return as a District Attorney. Therefore, I never took any case which would force me to reverse my position in regard to the death penalty to adequately represent my client. I simply could not see myself standing in front of a jury defending the life and character of a person who I knew deserved that punishment.

Unfortunately, my opponent in this election doesn’t share that same bedrock commitment to principles. Since he’s announced his candidacy for District Attorney, he’s done as much as possible to divert attention away from his actions as a private attorney. At a recent forum, he announced his support of the death penalty, and earlier this year he stated in front of a group of Republican women that he represented the Black Widow Killer Lynn Turner and that justice had been served in the case. This stands in stark contrast to the comments he made as her attorney a few years ago. Some of those comments include:

            -Calling the prosecution’s case gossip, innuendo, and character assassination against Lynn Turner. (Source:  AJC, 03/27/2007)

            -Stating that she was completely innocent of the charges and that in the end her innocence will be seen. (Source:  People, 12/02/2002)

            -Being quoted as saying “Thank God” when he successfully fought her getting the death penalty after being convicted twice of poisoning men with antifreeze. (Source:  AJC, 04/01/2007)

I will be the first to congratulate my opponent on a very successful career, and I will fully express my deep respect for his legal knowledge and abilities in a courtroom. However, being District Attorney not only means being a good courtroom attorney but also requires having a strong moral character. 

I have taught students in high school as a mock trial coach, and I have worked directly with police educating them on legal updates which they need to keep us safe. I lead hundreds of attorneys as Cobb Bar President. Being a moral District Attorney means leading a personal and professional life which exhibits the quality of leadership that we need in our county’s chief prosecutor.

Unprincipled leadership is how we see an increase in crime because real criminals end up going free as a result of selective justice. Victims suffer because the justice they deserve is sacrificed for a politically expedient result. As District Attorney, I will seek justice in all cases regardless of the political consequences.

Murderers such as Lynn Turner deserve the death penalty. My opponent changes his position about the death penalty based on what advances his political career. I look forward to being the District Attorney you can count on to stand up for our values of justice in the courtroom. I served as a principled attorney throughout my entire career in Cobb County. You can expect the same from me as your next District Attorney.

You can learn more about me and my campaign at www.cindiyeager.com or www.facebook.com/cindiyeager, and remember to vote July 31st!