Paul F. Walsh, Jr.
“Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson.
There are great times ahead for the National District Attorneys Association and I have real enthusiasm for this upcoming year.
Newman Flanagan has helped to build this association into what it is today. From the good old days years ago in Chicago to our state-of-the-art offices in Washington, Newman transformed this Model T into a modern smooth running Cadillac. And this year we’re going to take this baby on the road.
Here are my priorities for this pivotal year:
Communication
Tired of hearing from some talking head on TV critiquing a district attorney on a big case? Some “former federal prosecutor” doing a Monday morning quarterback job on a high profile prosecution? It is high time we go to New York and meet face to face with people who shape the news and whose coverage of crime in America shapes our image. This is one priority we can all be involved in this upcoming year.
Legislation
It is also high time for us to go to Washington ourselves, not just NDAA staff. The members of Congress represent the same people we do; they are elected the same way many of us are. We should be aggressive in letting them know that we share common goals in our communities. We should be equally aggressive in letting Congress know that 98 percent of the crime in America is prosecuted by local district attorneys and that they should stand shoulder to shoulder with us in handling this important responsibility.
Education
The training and forming of talented, aggressive and principled trial attorneys who protect the safety of their communities is something we have control over. We need no reporters or congressman to handle this challenge. Marshalling the resources and responsibilities of the National College of District Attorneys, the American Prosecutors Research Institute and the National Advocacy Center and deploying them in a complementary fashion to assure the highest quality of our trial assistants is another great challenge facing us in this pivotal year. There can be no better assurance of justice and safety in our communities than a cadre of well trained, well skilled and ethical young prosecutors.
Reorganization
It is also time we look at the way we do business as an organization. The purpose and function of NDAA will get a good long look this year. Incoming director Tom Charron knows and understands that we need to change with the times. Our meeting schedule, our meeting structure, our membership, our committees and our by-laws all need to be re-evaluated.
Yes, ladies and gentleman, this Cadillac is being taken out for a ride this year. I am looking forward to the journey as your president, and it is my hope that the best is yet to come.
