November17,2015

TheHonorableLorettaE.Lynch
AttorneyGeneraloftheUnitedStates
UnitedStatesDepartmentofJustice
950PennsylvaniaAvenue,NW
Washington,DC205300001

RE:
REQUESTFORFEDERALINVESTIGATIONINORANGECOUNTY,CALIFORNIA

DearAttorneyGeneralLynch:

Wetheundersignedshareafirmbeliefinourcriminaljusticesystemanditsoverallability
to produce fair and reliable results. Compelling evidence of pervasive police and prosecutorial
misconduct in Orange County, however, has caused us grave concern. We write to urge the
DepartmentofJusticetoinitiateaninvestigationintotheactionsoftheOrangeCountySheriffs
Department(OCSD)andtheOrangeCountyDistrictAttorneysOffice(OCDA)inconnection
withtheuseofjailhouseinformantsandtheconcealmentofinformantrelatedevidence.

EVIDENCEOFMISCONDUCTINORANGECOUNTY:ANOVERVIEW

On September 30, 2015, The New York Times published an editorial addressing the
situationinOrangeCounty,whichstated,inpart:

Inaschemethatmaygobackasfaras30years,prosecutorsandthecounty
sheriffsdepartmenthaveelicitedillegaljailhouseconfessions,failedtoturnover
evidencethatisfavorabletodefendantsandliedrepeatedlyincourtaboutwhat
theydid....Amongotherthings,thedefenseargued,deputiesintentionallyplaced
informantsincellsnexttodefendantsfacingtrial...andhidthatfact.

Theinformants,someofwhomfacedlifesentencesfortheirowncrimes,
were promised reduced sentences or cash payoutsin exchange for drawing out
confessionsorotherincriminatingevidencefromthedefendants.Thispracticeis
prohibited once someone has been charged with a crime. Even when using an
informantisallowed,defendantsandjudgesmustbetoldofthearrangement.That
didnothappeninOrangeCounty.As[one]defenselawyerdiscovered,thesheriffs
departmentkeptsecretacomputerfileshowingwherejailhouseinformantswere
placedthatwentbackdecades.Theprosecutorsofficekeptseparatefilesofdata
oninformantsandtheirdeals.

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Referring to the misconduct at issue as both blatant and systemic, The New York Times
concludedthat[t]heJusticeDepartmentshouldconductathoroughinvestigation.1

Asofthewritingofthisletter,itisfairtosaythatthecriminaljusticesysteminOrange
Countyisinastateofcrisis:chargesinextremelyseriouscaseshavebeenreducedordismissed;
violent crimesincluding murdershave gone entirely uninvestigated; to date, four law
enforcement officers have refused to testify in pending criminal matters, citing their Fifth
Amendmentprivilegeagainstselfincrimination;2andatleastoneprosecutorhasbeenfoundby
acourttohavegivenincredibletestimonyunderoath.3Moretroublingstill,thisallappearsto
bethetipoftheiceberg.

Giventhisstateofaffairs,aswellasthescopeofthemisconductatissue,theDepartment
ofJusticeistheonlyentitywiththecapacitytoconducttheinvestigationrequired.

InitialHearingsBeforeJudgeGoethals&August4,2014Ruling

Beginning in March of 2014, the Honorable Thomas Goethals held extraordinary

evidentiary hearings in the capital murder case of People v. Scott Dekraai. Witnesses were
questionedabouttheuseofaninformantinMr.Dekraaiscase,andaboutallegationsofwide
scale informantrelated misconduct in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963) and
Massiah v. United States, 377 U.S. 201 (1964). 4 Over the course of a year, twentyeight
prosecutorsandlawenforcementofficerstestifiedunderoath.

ThedefenseallegedthatmembersoftheOCSDhadalongstandingpracticeofsecretly
coordinating the movements of informants, in order to position them to obtain incriminating
statements from targeted defendants. Informants would then actively elicit statements from
chargeddefendants,goingwellbeyondtheconstitutionallypermissibleroleoflisteningposts.5

DishonestProsecutors,LotsofThem,http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/30/opinion/dishonest
prosecutorslotsoftheminsoutherncalif.html?_r=0.

WithDeputiesRefusingToTestifyUnderOathInSnitchScandal,It'sTimeForAFederalProbe,
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2015/10/orange_county_snitch_scandal_informant.php;andDeputiesTake
theFifth,ComplicatingYetAnotherJailSnitchCase,http://www.ocregister.com/articles/attorney688078case
deputies.html.

Peoplev.DekraaiSupplementalRuling,
http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/SUPPLEMENTALRULINGDekraai03122015.pdf.

DekraaiMotiontoDismisstheDeathPenalty,http://bit.ly/1MCpnNe;andHowTonyRackauckasTooka
SlamDunkDeathPenaltyCaseandTurnedItintoHisWorstCrisis,
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2015/03/scott_dekraai_seal_beach_salon_murder_tony_rackauckas_distric
t_attorney.php.

U.S.v.Henry,447U.S.264,271(1980),findingthatajailhouseinformantwhowasnotapassivelistener
butengagedinsomeconversationswithanincustodydefendantviolatedhisSixthAmendmentrighttocounsel

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Innumerouscases,informantsweresaidtohavecoercedconfessionsfromtargeteddefendants
withthreatsofphysicalviolenceanddeath.

Prosecutors, the defense maintained, consistently concealed information about these

practices, despite a clear duty of disclosure. Instead, prosecutors repeatedly presented
informantsto defense attorneys, judges, and even juriesin an identical fashion: as lucky
listenerswhohappenedtoendupinthepresenceoftalkativedefendants.Thedefensefurther
allegedthatinsomeinstances,inordertoconcealthemisconduct,prosecutorswentsofarasto
suborn perjury. Prosecutors were said to have routinely concealed evidence damaging to the
credibility of their informants, even when such evidence suggested that the informants were
extraordinarilyunreliable.

Over the course of the hearings before Judge Goethals, OCSD Special Handling Unit
deputiestestifiedunderoathabouttheplacementofinformants.6TheOCSDdeputiesdeniedthat
theplacementofinformantsnexttoMr.Dekraaiandotherhighvalueinmateswasintentional,
repeatedlytestifyingthat,tothecontrary,thehousingarrangementswereentirelycoincidental.
Overthecourseoftheirtestimony,OCSDdeputieswentstillfurther,denyingtheveryexistence
ofajailhouseinformantprograminOrangeCounty.TheOCDAendorsedthetestimonyofOCSD
witnesses,whodeniedanywrongdoing.InhisrulingissuedonAugust4,2014,7JudgeGoethals
concluded,interalia:

This court believes that the discovery rules arising out of Brady are clear and
unequivocal.Withthatinmindthiscourtfindsthatsubstantialevidencesupports
anumberofthedefendantsallegationsconcerningpotentialBradyviolations.

[T]hiscourtfindsthatworkinginformantsandtargetedinmateswereattimes
intentionallymovedinsidetheOrangeCountyjailbyjailstaff,oftenattherequest
of outside law enforcement agencies, in the hope that inmates would make
incriminatingstatementstothoseinformants.Suchintentionalmovementswere
seldom,ifever,documentedbyanymemberoflawenforcement.Thereforelittle
ornoinformationconcerningthoseintentionalmovementswasevercreatedor
turnedovertodefensecounselaspartofthediscoveryprocess.Thiscourtalso

underMassiah.SeealsoCal.Pen.Code4001.1(b),alawpassedin1990inresponsetotheLosAngelesinformant
scandaldiscussedbelow,prohibitinganyactbeyondmerelylisteningbyincustodyinformants.

TheSpecialHandlingUnitisstaffedbyasmallgroupofdeputiesworkinginthejail,whoseassignments,as
describedinasearchwarrantwrittenbyDeputySethTunstallinthecaseofPeoplev.Zorich,include[g]athering
gangintelligenceonshotcaller/representatives,gangrivalriesinandoutofcustody,narcotictraffickingwithinthe
system,[and]developingconfidentialinformants(emphasisadded).Thesearchwarrantthatincludesthis
descriptionofSpecialHandlingsroleindevelopingconfidentialinformantswasnotuncoveredbytheDekraai
defenseteamuntilafterthecloseoftheinitialhearingsinthecase.

Peoplev.DekraaiRuling,http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/RulingbyGoethals.pdf.

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finds that false documentation was requested by, and likely provided to, jail
informantstoenablethemtoincreasetheircredibilitywithtargetinmates.Allof
theseactivitiesshould...havebeendisclosedtodefensecounselpursuantto
Brady in order to facilitate a defendants investigation of possible Massiah
violations.

This court also finds that, despite their testimony to the contrary, express or
impliedpromisesweremadetobothoftheinformantswhoseconductishereat
issueandfromwhomthiscourtheardextensivetestimony....AstheDistrict
Attorneysowntrainingmaterials...suggest,thisisBradymaterial.

This court further finds that, without legal justification or excuse, in different
casesinvolvingthesameinformantsignificantlydifferentquantitiesofinformant
related discovery material were turned over by Orange County prosecutors to
defensecounsel....Themissingmaterialincludesdozens,sometimeshundreds,
of pages of handwritten informant notes which summarized incriminating
statements allegedly made by targeted inmates. After considering all of the
evidencepresentedonthissubject,thiscourtisnotconvincedthatthesechronic
discovery failures were the result of any improper intervention by federal
authorities.ThemissingdiscoveryconstitutedBradymaterial.

Many of the witnesses who testified during the course of this hearing were
credibilitychallenged.Thesewitnessesincludecurrentandformerprosecutors,
aswellascurrentandformerswornpeaceofficers.Someperhapssufferedfrom
failureofrecollection.Othersundoubtedlylied.

JudgeGoethalsconcludedthatMr.DekraaisstatementstoinformantFernandoPerezhad
beenobtainedinviolationofMassiah,apointultimatelyconcededbytheStateatthehearings.8
Ontheotherhand,thecourt[found]thatakeymisconductallegationrelateddirectlytothis
defendant [had] not been sustained. Noting that [a]s unlikely as it may seem in light of the
foregoingfindingsandthehealthyskepticismdevelopedbythiscourtovertheyearsrelatedto
coincidenceandcriminalprosecutions,JudgeGoethalsreluctantlycreditedtherepresentationof
theOCDAandtheOCSDthatMr.DekraaiandtheinformantFernandoPerezwerenothousedin
neighboringcellsasaresultofaspecificplanbylawenforcement,butinsteadasaresultofa
confluenceofindependentevents.

OnthedaythatformerDeputyDAErikPetersenwasscheduledtotestify,Dekraaiprosecutorsannounced
thattheywouldconcedetheMassiahviolationinvolvingPerez,andaskedthatJudgeGoethalslimitanyfurther
testimonyinthecaseandprohibitthedefensefromcallingMr.Petersen.JudgeGoethalsrejectedthatrequest.D.A.
Won'tUseJailhouseRecordingsinSealBeachMassMurderCase,http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/lameln
jailhouserecordingssealbeachshooter20140422story.html.

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ThoughJudgeGoethalsdidsanctiontheprosecution,9hedeclinedtorecusetheDistrict
Attorney.Callingittroublingthatthroughoutthispendinglitigationadditionalmaterialsthat
appear to have been subject to this courts January, 2013 discovery order have continued to
emergefromvarioussources,JudgeGoethalsneverthelessconcludedthat,[o]nbalance,this
courthasnotlostconfidencethatthedulyelectedDistrictAttorneyofthiscountyhastheability
tocompetentlyandethicallycompletetheprosecutionofthisseriousmatter.
ReopenedHearingsBeforeJudgeGoethals&March12,2015SupplementalRuling

Following the conclusion of the initial portion of the hearings, the defense uncovered
significantnewevidence,includingtheexistenceofasecretcomputerdatabasemaintainedby
the OCSD since 1990, called TRED. 10 A TRED file contains entries that Judge Goethals later
describedasdocumentingsignificantinformationaboutcellmovementsandthereasonforsuch
transfers.JudgeGoethalsconcludedthatthisnewlydiscoveredevidencewassignificantenough
tomeritreopeningthehearingsandrevisitinghispriorruling.Asheexplainedinhissupplemental
ruling,[t]hedefensehaddevelopednewevidencesuggestingthatoneormoreofthewitnesses
whotestifiedduringtheinitialphaseofthehearingliedduringtheirtestimony.

Theveryexistenceofadatabasewithinformationaboutinmatemovementsandother
critical information, considered alongside the contents of several key TRED files, directly
contradictedsubstantialportionsofOCSDtestimonypresentedattheinitialhearings.Overthe
courseofthereopenedhearingsitbecameclearthat,contrarytotheStatewitnessespriorsworn
testimony,asecretjailhouseinformantprogramhaslongexistedinOrangeCountysjails.11The
revelationoftheTREDfilesalsoexposedoneofJudgeGoethalskeyfindingsmadeinreliance
ontheStatesrepresentationsintestimonyandargumentasincorrect.Thiskeyfindingwasthe
determinationthatintentionalmovementswereseldom,ifever,documentedbyanymemberof
lawenforcement.Therefore,littleornoinformationconcerningthoseintentionalmovementswas
ever created . . . . With the discovery of the TRED files, law enforcements documentation of
inmatemovementswasuncovered.TheTREDfilesalsocontradictedsworntestimonyfromOCSD
deputiesregardingthereasonswhyMr.Dekraaiwashousedwithaninformant.

ThedecisiontoconcealTREDfiles,alongwiththeBradymaterialcontainedwithinthem,
suggeststhatlawenforcementofficialsinOrangeCountyhavebeenwillingtogotogreatlengths

Determiningthatasignificantsanctionisappropriateasaresultofthemisconductinvolvedhere,Judge
Goethalsexcludedallevidencerelatedtotheirmisconduct,inotherwords,theexclusionofthedefendants
custodialstatementsforallpurposesduringapenaltytrial.

10

SheriffsDepartmentUseofJailhouseTrackingSystemUnderScrutiny,
http://voiceofoc.org/2015/02/sheriffsdepartmentuseofjailhousetrackingsystemunderscrutiny/.

11

Peoplev.DekraaiRuling,http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/RulingbyGoethals.pdf.

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notonlytocircumventtheconstitutionalprotectionsaffordedcriminaldefendants,12butalsoto
ensurethattheireffortsremainsecret.JudgeGoethalsunderscoredthisconcern,emphasizingthe
consistentrefusalofOCSDdeputiesinearliertestimonytosomuchasmentiontheTREDfiles,
evenwhensuchinformationwascalledforbyquestionsaskedofthemunderoathincourt.13

On March 12, 2015, after considering the new evidence before him, Judge Goethals
ordered the recusal of the entire OCDA and imposed significant additional sanctions on the
prosecution.14JudgeGoethalsspecificallyfoundthat:

[D]eputies Tunstall and Garcia have either intentionally lied or willfully withheld
materialevidencefromthiscourtduringthecourseoftheirvarioustestimonies.
Forthiscourtscurrentpurposes,oneisasbadastheotheranditisthereforenot
necessary to engage in the semantical analysis required to determine which of
thesepossibilitieshasoccurred.Thiscourtwillleavethatevaluationtoprosecutors
employedbytheexecutivebranchofgovernment.

JudgeGoethalsalsomadeclearthathedidnotbelievethetestimonyofDeputyDistrictAttorney
ErikPetersenwithrespecttotheclaimthataformerfederalprosecutorwasresponsibleforone

12

OCSDdeputiesappeartohaveemployedthefollowingtactics,amongothers,toachievethisend:(1)the
maintenanceofinformanttanks,inwhichjailhouseinformantsandhighvalueinmatesareintentionallyplacedin
thesamehousingareas;(2)theorchestratedmovementofinformantstohousinglocationsneartargets,including
thefraudulentmanipulationofthehousingandsecuritylevelsofinformants,designedtoinducethetrustoftargets;
and(3)theactiveencouragementofinformantstosecurestatementsfromrepresentedtargets.Tr.,Dekraai
Hearing,February9,2015,at63556360;Tr.,DekraaiHearing,February17,2015,at66376348,6748.
13

Inhisopinion,JudgeGoethalsstatedthatDeputyTunstallandDeputyGarciahaveeitherintentionallylied
orwillfullywithheldmaterialevidencefromthiscourtduringthecourseoftheirvarioustestimonies...evenwhen
suchinformationwascalledforbyquestionsaskedofthemunderoathincourt.Peoplev.DekraaiSupplemental
Ruling,http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/SUPPLEMENTALRULINGDekraai03122015.pdf.JudgeGoethalswrote
that[t]hiscourtdidnotbelievetheearliertestimonyofeitherTunstallorDeputyDAErikPetersenwhenthey
unsuccessfullytriedtoshiftresponsibilityforaseriousdiscoverybreachinanothercasetotheshouldersofaformer
federalprosecutor.

14

Asasanctionforthesignificantconcealmentofevidence,JudgeGoethalsexcludedallpenaltyphase
evidenceotherthan1)evidencedirectlyrelatedtotheactscommittedbythisdefendantonOctober12,2011;2)
statementsmadebythedefendantbeforehisbookingattheOrangeCountyJail;and3)victimimpactevidence.
SeeYoureAllOut,http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2015/05/
orange_county_prosecutor_misconduct_judge_goethals_takes_district_attorney.html;WhenDistrictAttorneys
Attack,http://www.nationalreview.com/article/419110/criminaljusticemessorangecountykevindwilliamson;
JudgeDisqualifiesAll250ProsecutorsinOrangeCounty,CABecauseofWidespreadCorruption,
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/05/29/1388819/Judgedisqualifiesall250prosecutorsinOrangeCountyCA
becauseofwidespreadcorruption;Critics:OrangeCountyDANeedsCleansingwithBleachandFirehoses,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/03/orangecountyda_n_6993390.html;OCDistrictAttorneysTeam
BarredfromSealBeachShootingCase,http://voiceofoc.org/2015/03/ocdistrictattorneybarredfromdekraai
deathpenaltyhearing/;andCaughtBackingLyingSheriffsDeputies,OrangeCountyProsecutorsGetBootedIn
MurderCase,http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2015/03/seal_beach_salon_massacre.php.

RequestforFederalInvestigationinOrangeCounty,California
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oftheseriousdiscoverybreaches.InmakingthedecisiontoreversecourseandrecusetheDistrict
Attorney,JudgeGoethalsreasonedasfollows:

[T]he District Attorney cannot or will not in this case comply with the discovery
orders of this court and the related constitutional and statutory mandates that
guarantee this defendants right to due process and a fair trial. Therefore, the
defendantsmotiontorecusetheofficeoftheOrangeCounty[D]istrictAttorney
mustbeandisgranted.15

The evidence adduced at the hearings, along with Judge Goethals findings, raises the
specter of a decadeslong, widescale constitutional crisis. Given that evidence from the TRED
databasewasapparentlyconcealedforsometwentyfiveyears,thereiscertainlyreasontobelieve
thatcountlessTREDfilescreatedduringthepastquartercenturymightincludeBradymaterial
thatwasneverdisclosedtodefendants.Thisinturnraisesadditionalquestions:howoftenwere
TREDnotationssuppressedwhentheyoughttohavebeendisclosed?Aretherecaseswherethe
hiddenTREDfilescouldhavemadethedifferencebetweenacquittalandconviction,freedomand
incarceration,orperhapsevenlifeanddeath?

EvidencePointingtoProsecutorsCentralRole

Theevidencesuggeststhatlawenforcementdoesnotbearexclusiveresponsibility,oreven
primaryresponsibility,forthesuppressionofcriticalimpeachmentandexculpatoryinformationin
Orange County. Rather, the documented evidence indicates that prosecutors have played a
centralrolefordecades.

TheOCDAsPotentialKnowledgeoftheTREDSystem

Inarecentinterview,OCSDSheriffHutchensstatedthat,Theresnosecretabout[the
TRED System]. Certainly, the District Attorneys office has known about it for years. 16 Mr.
RackauckasrespondedbyflatlydenyingthattheOCDAhadbeenawareofthesystemsexistence,
statingthatTREDfileshadonlybeendisclosedbytheOCSDinoneofitscases.Theseconflicting
representationsmeritadditionalinquiry.

15

Peoplev.DekraaiSupplementalRuling,
http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/SUPPLEMENTALRULINGDekraai03122015.pdf.

16

JailhouseInformantScandalRockingCriminalJusticeSysteminOrangeCounty,
http://abc7.com/news/jailhouseinformantscandalrockingoccriminaljusticesystem/1046811/.

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TheSuppressionofBradyEvidencefromtheOrangeCountyInformantIndex

Significantevidenceemergedinasecondcapitalcase,Peoplev.DanielWozniak,17which
suggeststhattheOCDAhasroutinelysuppressedBradyevidencecontainedintheOrangeCounty
InformantIndex(O.C.I.I.).TheO.C.I.I.ismanagedbytheOCDA,andisintendedtoserveasthe
countywidedatabaseofinformantfilesforlawenforcementandtheOCDA.Theindexdocuments
assistancefromcooperators,aswellasconcernsregardingcooperatorconductandreliability.
TheO.C.I.I.systemappearstohavebeeninexistenceforatleastthirtyfiveyears.

The OCDA should have known about its failures to disclose Brady evidence within the
O.C.I.I.nolaterthan1990,duringposttrialhabeaslitigationinthedeathpenaltycaseofPeoplev.
Thomas Thompson.18Mr. Thompson was executed in 1998, but the case has been haunted by
compelling allegations about both the concealment of evidence and misconduct by the
prosecution.19AtMr.Thompsonstrial,theprosecutionneverdisclosedthatanO.C.I.I.fileexisted

17

OnAugust26,2015,Mr.Wozniak,whoisawaitingtrialinadeathpenaltycase,filedaMotiontoDismiss
theDeathPenalty,allegingandanalyzingthirtyyearsofpurportedinformantrelatedmisconductinOrangeCounty.
Peoplev.WozniakMotiontoDismiss,Super.Ct.OrangeCounty,No.12ZF0137,filedAug.26,2015,
http://voiceofoc.org/files/2015/08/WozniakDefenseMotiontoDismissasfiled08262015.pdf.
18

In1990,appellatecounselfinallyobtainedfromtheOCDAakeyinformantsO.C.I.I.file,whichincluded
informationthatwouldhavesubstantiallyunderminedhiscredibility.DeclarationofWilliamJ.Arzbaecher,III,Oct.
25,1990.

19

AtthepreliminaryhearingofMr.ThompsonandhiscodefendantDavidLeitch,theprosecutorcalledthree
informantswhoclaimedMr.ThompsonconfessedthathewasdirectedbyMr.Leitchtokillthefemalevictim,
becauseMr.Leitchfearedthevictimwouldinterferewithhiseffortstoreconcilewithhiswife.Whenformer
assistantDAMichaelJacobstookoverthecase,hedecidedtotrythetwodefendantsseparately.AttheThompson
trial,Mr.Jacobscalledtwonewinformantsaswitnesses,bothofwhomtestifiedthatMr.Thompsonadmittedhis
soleresponsibilityfortherape/murder.Mr.Thompsonwasconvictedandsentencedtodeath.AttheLeitchtrial,
Mr.Jacobsreturnedtothetheoryfromthepreliminaryhearing,arguingthatthedefendantdirectedMr.Thompson
tokillthevictim.Mr.JacobsdidnotpursuethedeathpenaltyagainstMr.Leitch,whowasconvictedofsecond
degreemurder.AsJudgeStephenReinhardtmadeclearinoneofhisdiscussionsofThompsonovertheyears:

Theincompatibilityofthetwopresentationscouldnothavebeenmoreevident.AsJudge
BettyFletcherofourcourtlaterwrote,littleaboutthetrialsremainedconsistentotherthanthe
prosecutor'sdesiretowinatanycost.

Theprosecutorscontradictorypresentationsweresoblatantlyunethicalthat,inawholly
unprecedented action, seven former California prosecutors with extensive death penalty
experiencesubsequentlyfiledanamicusbriefonThompson'sbehalfintheUnitedStatesSupreme
Court,arguingthatthisisacasewhereitappearsthatouradversarialsystemhasnotproduceda
fairandreliableresult.Thisgroupoftopprosecutorsincludedtheindividualentrustedwiththe
decisionwhethertoseekthedeathpenaltyinallcapitaleligiblecasesinLosAngelesCountyduring
19791991,hiscounterpartinSacramentoentrustedwiththesamedecisionsinthatcountyduring
19891995, and the drafter of the California death penalty statute under which Thompson was
convicted and sentenced. These highly respected prosecutors severely criticized the egregious
conductofThompsonsprosecutorandobservedthattheuseofthreeinformantstosupportone

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for informant Edward Fink, even though he was described within that file as an unreliable
operator.ThefilealsoincludedanentrystatingthatMr.Finkescapedcustodywhileactingasan
informantwiththeLongBeachPoliceDepartment.20

Inthepastyear,theconcealmentofinformantFinksO.C.I.I.fileinThompsonsparkeda
broader investigation by the Wozniak defense. This probe appears to have only scratched the
surface of the scope of nondisclosure stemming from prosecutors handling of this critical
database of informant information. Mr. Thompsons prosecutor, Michael Jacobs, admitted in a
1999depositionforanothercondemneddefendant,WilliamCharlesPayton,thathedidnotturn
overtheO.C.I.I.fileforakeyinformantinthatcase,DanielEscalera.Jacobsfurthertestifiedthat
hewasunawareofeventheexistenceoftheO.C.I.I.systemduringthefirsttwodecadesofhis
career.Atthetimeofhisdeposition,theveteranmurderprosecutorwasthechiefoftheOCDAs
homicideunit.21

A document discussed for the first time in a Wozniak pleading signals that the non
disclosureofevidencefromtheO.C.I.I.filesdoesnotappeartobeaproblemuniquetoMr.Jacobs,
butrathertheresultoflongterm,andlongconcealed,OCDApractices.A1999lettersentfroma
highranking official within the California Attorney Generals Office (AG) to current Orange
CountyDistrictAttorneyTonyRackauckas22describeseffortsbymultipleprosecutorsdesignedto
prevent defendant Payton from obtaining O.C.I.I. entries relating to informant Escalera. 23
AccordingtotheAGsletter,theOCDAonlyagreedtoturnovercriticalentriesafterbeingadvised
thatif[theOCDA]didnotdisclosethismaterialintheinformantindex,theAttorneyGenerals
officehadanindependentethicalobligationtodiscloseittothedefenseunderBrady.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this discovery is the following: not even this
communicationappearstohavebeenenoughtospurMr.Rackauckastoinvestigatewhetherthere
weresystemicdiscoveryviolationsunderwayinconnectionwiththeuseandpotentialabuseof
the O.C.I.I. Thus, it is not surprising that other cases have also been located, predating and

prosecutiontheoryandthentwonewinformantstosupportanotherdemonstrateshoweasyitis
tomanipulatefactswhentheprosecutorsgoalistowinatallcosts.

JudgeStephenReinhardt,TheAnatomyofanExecution:Fairnessvs.Process,
http://www.law.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/ECM_PRO_059248.pdf.

20

Peoplev.Wozniak,MotiontoDismiss,at240241.

21

Peoplev.Wozniak,MotiontoDismiss,at38.

22

LetterdatedJune16,1999,fromChiefAssistantAGDavidDrulinertoOrangeCountyDistrictAttorneyTony
Rackauckas,http://bit.ly/1Xf14gf.

23

AccordingtohisO.C.I.I.file,EscalerawasamemberofEME[i.e.,theMexicanMafia]andhasputouta
[contract]onaninformantslife.

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postdatingtheAGsletter,inwhichitappearsthatBradyevidencefromtheO.C.I.I.wasnotturned
overand,instead,substantialeffortsweremadetopreventitsdisclosure.24

AdditionalConcernsAbouttheOCDAsConductandResponsetoRevelations

ThemotionstodismissthedeathpenaltyfiledinDekraaiandWozniakidentifynumerous
defendantsashavinghadsignificantinformantrelatedevidencesuppressedbytheOCDA.Weare
deeplytroubledthatmuchoftheevidenceallegedlysuppressedextendswellbeyondtheO.C.I.I.

For instance, there is evidence that in multiple cases, informants extracted confessions
from targeted defendants with threats of physical violence and death.25Such actions squarely
violateaUnitedStatesSupremeCourtcaseonthatverypoint,Arizonav.Fulminante,499U.S.279
(1991). However, neither prosecutors nor members of local law enforcement needed to be
familiarwiththatparticularholdingtorealizethatconfessionsshouldnotbecoercedwiththreats
ofviolenceanddeath.Itisconcerningthatsuchanoperationcouldoccuronasingleoccasion,let
alone repeatedly. The fact that in some instances, the prosecutor elected to hide any and all
evidenceoftheconfessions,despiteanunambiguousdutyofdisclosure,26stronglyindicatesan
appreciationoftheillegalityofsuchconduct.

ProfoundImpactontheAdministrationofJusticeandtheResponseofLocalAuthorities

ThebehavioroftheOCDAsincetheDekraaiMotiontoDismisswasfiledinJanuaryof2014
hasdonenothingtodispelourconcerns.Ratherthanconductingafullandfairinvestigationof
these serious allegations, 27 and analyzing the scope of cases potentially tainted by past

24

Forexample,MarkCleveland,aprolificinformantwhosejailhousecooperationspannednearly30years,
wasdescribedonthefirstpageofhisO.C.I.I.fileasaprobleminformant.Peoplev.Wozniak,MotiontoDismiss,at
205.Additionally,thefirstentrydescribingMr.Clevelandsinformanteffortsstates:Subjectcannotbetrusted.Id.
at205.Mr.Clevelandallegedlybrokeintoahomeandstolemoneywhileoperatingasaninformantwithalocal
policedepartment.Id.TheO.C.I.I.fileforFernandoPereztheinformantwhoobtainedstatementsfrombothMr.
WozniakandMr.Dekraaiincludesthefollowingentry,baseduponinformationprovidedbyalocaldetectivein
1999:PerezwasterminatedasaC.I.DonotuseasaC.I.TheprosecutorsinDekraaiclaimednottohave
examinedMr.PerezsO.C.I.I.fileuntilJanuaryof2013,fifteenmonthsafterMr.Perezelicitedaconfessionfromthe
defendant.Id.at67,162.

25

Peoplev.Wozniak,MotiontoDismiss,at527532,613615,660671.

26

ThisdutyemanatesbothfromBradyandCaliforniastatutorydiscoveryprovisions.SeeCal.Pen.Code
1054.1(b),thescopeofwhichexceedsBradywhenitcomestostatementsbydefendantsandwitnesses.(The
prosecutingattorneyshalldisclosetothedefendant...[the](b)[s]tatementsofalldefendants...[and](f)
[r]elevantwrittenorrecordedstatementsofwitnessesorreportsofthestatementsofwitnesseswhomthe
prosecutorintendstocallatthetrial....)Thatis,anystatementmadebythedefendantoratrialwitness,whether
itisexculpatoryornot,mustbedisclosed.

27

TheOCDAconductedwhatitdescribedasaninternalinvestigationbeforetheDekraaihearingsbegan,in
whichnumerouswitnessesnamedintheMotiontoDismisswereinterviewed.Butinvestigatorsdidnotrecorda
singleintervieworcreateasinglereport.Tr.,DekraaiHearing,March24,2014,at997998.Notonlywasthechiefof

RequestforFederalInvestigationinOrangeCounty,California
November17,2015
Page11

misconduct,theOCDAapparentlyturneditsenergiestopreventingJudgeGoethalsfromhearing
moreofitscases.28

TherecentdecisionbyanothercourttodenytheWozniakMotiontoDismisstheDeath
Penalty,a754pagefilingwithmorethan20,000pagesofsupportingexhibits,withoutallowing
anywitnesstestimony,isfurtherevidenceoftheneedforfederalintervention.29Individualtrial
courts are neither inclined nor equipped to conduct widescale investigations into systemic
misconduct.JudgeGoethalsdecisiontogoasfarashedidwasnothingshortofanomalous,and
evenhelimitedhisinquirytothefactsastheyrelatedtotheindividualcriminalcasebeforehim.

thehomicideunitandtheleadprosecutoronDekraai,AssistantDADanWagner,neverinterviewed,butheactually
helpedleadtheinvestigation,despitebeingafocusofthedefenseallegationsofwrongdoing.Duringhistestimony
inDekraai,whenhewasaskedwhyinvestigatorsdidnotcreateanyreportsrelatedtothewitnessinterviews,
AssistantDAWagnerstated,IguessIcouldanswerfrommyownstandpoint.Therewasnothingtherewasno
newinformation.Therewasnothingthatwascontrary.TherewasnothingthatwasBradymaterial.Id.at998.

28

SinceFebruary2014,thedistrictattorney'sofficehasaskedtodisqualifyGoethalsaformerhomicide
prosecutoranddefenseattorneyin57cases,accordingtocourtrecords.In2011,recordsshow,prosecutorsmade
disqualificationrequestsagainstGoethalsjustthreetimes.In2012,zerotimes.In2013,onlytwice.O.C.Prosecutors
SteeringCasesAwayfromJudgeThomasGoethals,http://www.latimes.com/local/orangecounty/lamejailhouse
snitch20150314story.html.

29

JudgeJohnConley,whomthedefensetwicesoughttorecusebaseduponissuessurroundinghisownuse
ofajailhouseinformantwhenhewasahomicideprosecutorattheOCDA,declinedtoholdhearingsintheWozniak
case,reasoningasfollows:

[Wozniak]cannotusewhatheclaimshappenedinmorethan40othercasesatothertimes
toshowoutrageousgovernmentmisconductinhisowncase,andhehasnotshownthatanyalleged
misconductinthoseothercaseswouldaffecthisrighttoafairtrial.

Thatleavesthedefendantsassertionthathehasestablishedathirtyyearhistoryoflaw
enforcementsurreptitiouslyviolatingdefendantsconstitutionalrightsandoftheDistrictAttorneys
Officefailingtoturnoverconstitutionallyandstatutorilymandateddiscovery.Thisistherealthrust
ofhisargument.

Thecourtisnotpersuadedbythisargument.Basedonthisrecorditcanneithercriticize
norapprovetheconductoftheDistrictAttorneyandlawenforcementineachoftheother40cases
defendant cites. This record is not clear enough either to condemn or to exoneratewith the
exception of those cases handled by former Deputy District Attorney Eri[k]Petersen,where the
District Attorney concedesthaterrorswere made. Toresolve this issue wouldtakemonthsand
monthsoftestimonyinacasewhichwasfirstfiled5yearsagoandissetfortrialon10/30/15,
today.

Peoplev.Wozniak,DecisiononMotiontoDismisstheDeathPenalty,http://bit.ly/20xToIv.Thedefenseand
prosecutionpleadingsareavailableat:MotiontoDismisstheDeathPenalty,8/26/2015,http://bit.ly/20xSyeT;D.A.
PreliminaryResponsetoMotiontoDismiss,8/27/2015,http://bit.ly/1RZ6xUI;D.A.OppositiontoMotiontoDismiss,
9/16/2015,http://bit.ly/1St4jhm;andDefenseReplytoProsecutionResponsetoMotiontoDismiss,10/15/2015,
http://bit.ly/1RZ7bl4.Theseconddisqualificationmotionisavailableat:http://bit.ly/1kx2wfv.

RequestforFederalInvestigationinOrangeCounty,California
November17,2015
Page12

Moreover, efforts by the OCDA to publicly minimize the seriousness of the situation have
remained consistent, as has the apparent refusal to so much as consider the potential
consequencestocountlessaccusedwhomayhavebeendeprivedofcriticalevidence.30

The staunch refusal of the OCDA and the OCSD to acknowledge the possibility that
membersoftheirrespectiveagenciesmayhaveintentionallydepriveddefendantsofevidence,or
thatscoresofasyetunidentifieddefendantshavebeendenieddueprocess,wouldappeartobe
drivenmorebyconcernsaboutselfpreservationthanimpartialanalysis.Indeed,theinterestin
avoidingfurtherscrutinyappearstohaverepeatedlyinfluencedorprecipitatedtheresolutionof
seriouscasesimplicatedinthescandal.Onedefendantnowfaceslessthanfouryearsinprison
after first being sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for murder; 31 another
defendant,whoallegedlyadmittedtotwoseparatemurders,recentlyreceivedasentencethat
allowedhimtobereleasedonprobation;32andanumberofotherdefendantsreceivedreduced
sentencesafteranOCSDdeputyfoundtohaveprovidedmisleadingtestimonyinDekraairefused
totestifyfortheprosecutionintheircases.33

The repeated efforts to minimize or even evade these questions entirely, leaving
investigations and cases to fall by the wayside, 34 have had other implications for the

30

TheOCDA,insteadofproposingitsowninvestigationintothe40somecasesbroughttoitsattentionbythe
Wozniakdefensefacedwithadecisionbythecourtfindingthattherecordisnotclearenoughtocondemnor
exonerate[theOCDAandlawenforcement]electedinsteadtoissueapressreleasestatingthatTheHonorable
JohnD.ConleyfoundtodaythattheaccusationsofoutrageousgovernmentalconductbytheOrangeCountyDistrict
AttorneysOffice(OCDA)wereuntrue.Thisresponseisconsistentwithotherrecentpublicstatements.O.C.District
AttorneyOfficialCallsClaimsofIntentionalMisconductinUseofJailhouseInformantsBaloney,
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/attorney685527officedistrict.html.

31

DAsMisconductLeadstoReducedSentenceforConvictedMurderer,http://voiceofoc.org/2015/02/das
misconductleadstoreducedsentenceforconvictedmurderer/.

32

Calif.ProsecutorsOptforFreeingAccusedMurderersInsteadofTransparency,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/thewatch/wp/2014/10/15/califprosecutorsoptforfreeingaccused
murderersinsteadoftransparency/;andHereIsWhyanAdmittedKillerWalkedFree,
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/palacios639481morielinformant.html.Inexplainingtheresolutionofthe
case,asupervisingprosecutorstatedthathisofficesconsiderationsfortheresolutionincludedthat[w]edidnt
wanttogothroughanotheroneofthose[Dekraai]hearings.

33

ThinBlueLies:OrangeCountyPaysPriceforLawEnforcementPerjury,
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2015/06/tony_rackauckas_prosecutors_oc_snitch_scandal_ocda.php;
InformantFallout:O.C.Sheriff'sDeputyRefusestoTestifyinMexicanMafiaCases,
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/tunstall664879deputycases.html;andOCDeputiesSnitchScamPlaybook
Revealed,http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2015/06/oc_deputies_snitch_scam_playbook_revealed.php.

34

MurdersForgotten:HowFarDidProsecutorsGotoHideInformantsNetwork?,
http://voiceofoc.org/2015/03/murdersforgottenhowfardidprosecutorsgotohideinformantsnetwork;
MisconductInJailhouseSnitchProgramLettingMurderSuspectsWalkFree,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/21/californiajailhouseinformants_n_5999674.html;andGangMembers

RequestforFederalInvestigationinOrangeCounty,California
November17,2015
Page13

administration of justice in Orange County. For instance, the OCDA and local law enforcement
failed to investigate as many as six murders admitted to by one key informant. 35 A signed
agreementwiththatsameinformant,aswellasrecordedpoliceinterviewswithhim,remained
hiddenwithalocalpoliceagencyforfiveyearsandwereneverturnedovertodefendantsin
three potential life cases in which he testified. 36 In one of several interviews that were not
disclosed,theinformanttoldpoliceinvestigators,ashetriedtonegotiatearesolutionofhisown
attemptedmurdercase,thatImightbeabletohelpyououtifmymemorycanfallbackinplace,
itmightnotbeabletofallbackinplacebecauseit'salongtimeago.Peopleforget.IfIcangrab
spotsofmymemoryandmakeitseemlikeitwasyesterday....Inanothercaseinvolvingwhat
appears to be a wrongfully incarcerated 14yearold, the prosecution withheld exculpatory
evidenceintheformofseparatestatementsmadebytwoaccomplicestothejailhouseinformant.
(TheOCDAhassaidthatitcannotconfirmwhatmaterialscameintoitspossession,becausethe
casefiledisappeared.37)Thatsameinformant,whoisstillexpectedtotestifyforthegovernment
in a federal case, allegedly told a Los Angelesbased news program in recent weeks that he
believed[p]eoplesconstitutionalrightshavebeenviolated.38

L.A.CountyInformantScandal

ThesituationinOrangeCountyisespeciallytroubling,consideringthatinthelate1980s,
Los Angeles County, its neighbor to the north, endured what was previously the most serious
jailhouse informant scandal in the nations history. 39 The highly publicized revelations of

ReducedSentenceisSixthCaseAlteredbyJailhouseInformants,http://www.ocregister.com/articles/islas679349
informantattorney.html.

35

OscarMorieltestifiedinonecasethatitmightbeuptofive,maybesixmurdersthathehascommitted.
Peoplev.Dekraai,MotiontoDismiss,at387.Mr.Moriel,whohasstillnotresolvedhisownattemptedmurdercase
orproceededtotrialsincehewaschargedandincarceratedtenyearsago,admittedthatnoonehasquestioned
himabouthismurders.Tr.,DekraaiHearing,April7,2014,at1641.

36

JailhouseSnitchTapesRevealHowCopsRecruitedSerialMurderertoBeTheirInformant,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/12/orangecountyjailhouseinformants_n_7566928.html;andRecordings
RevealHowInformantRingOperatedinOrangeCountyJails,http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/america
tonight/articles/2015/5/28/orangecountysnitchscandalaudiotapes.html.

37

HowOCLawEnforcementLockedUpanInnocent14YearOldBoyforTwoYears,
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2014/12/luis_vega_santa_ana_shooting_gang_andy_alvarez.php.

38

DidOrangeCountyLawEnforcementBreakLawbyUsingJailhouseInformants?,http://abc7.com/news/did
oclawenforcementbreaklawbyusingjailhouseinformants/1047095/.

39

ItisworthnotingthatthecurrentSheriffandUndersheriffofOrangeCounty,SandraHutchensandJohn
Scottrespectively,arebothtransplantsfromtheLosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment(LASD).Sheriff
HutchensworkedatvariouslevelsintheLASDfor30yearsbeforejoiningtheOCSDin2008.
http://www.sheriffhutchens.com/aboutsheriffhutchens.Likewise,UndersheriffScottworkedintheLASDfrom
19692005,andin2008joinedSheriffHutchensadministrationasUndersheriff.

RequestforFederalInvestigationinOrangeCounty,California
November17,2015
Page14

misconductintheLosAngelesjailspromptedaspecialgrandjuryinvestigationthatculminatedin
recommendations for reforms intended to guard against future abuses. 40 Those
recommendations appear to have gone unheeded in Orange County. In fact, OCSD officials
introducedthecomputerizedTREDsystemtheverysameyearthattheLosAngelesCountyGrand
Jury issued its reportwhile simultaneously initiating a practice of concealing TREDs and the
favorableevidencecontainedwithinthem.

TheNeedforaFederalInvestigation

The language found in a 1990 Los Angeles Times editorial calling for a federal
investigationpublishedaftertheLosAngelesCountyGrandJuryissueditsreportresonatesas
strongly,ifnotmoreso,inOrangeCounty,2015:

Unfortunately, it now appears that only the intervention of federal

authorities can restore public confidence in a criminal justice system in which
officersofthelawandthecourthavetoleratedand,insomeinstances,possibly
encouragedperjury.

Whatisatstakearefundamentalquestionsofconstitutionalrightsandthe
basicintegrityofacourtsystemtowhichthevotersofCaliforniahaveassignedthe
poweroflifeanddeath.

Failuretoresolvetheseissueswillopentheadministrationofjusticeinthis
countytodoubtssocorrosivethattheirconsequencesaredifficulttocalculate.41

TheresponsetotheLosAngelesCountyscandal,whichdidnotincludefederalintervention,failed
to address perhaps the most important issue: how to bring justice to defendants whose
convictionsandsentenceswerewrongfullysecuredthroughtheuseofdishonestinformantsand
unlawfulinformantrelatedpractices.42

http://shq.lasdnews.net/pages/pagedetail.aspx?id=2222.BothwereLASDemployeeswhentheLosAngeles
informantscandalerupted.

40

Reportofthe198990LosAngelesGrandJury,
http://www.ccfaj.org/documents/reports/jailhouse/expert/1989
1990%20LA%20County%20Grand%20Jury%20Report.pdf.

41

MakeItaFederalCase:GrandJuryReportonInformantScandalDoesntGoFarEnough,
http://articles.latimes.com/19900711/local/me4_1_grandjury.

42

InformantAidedConvictionsGoingUnchallenged:Justice:FewDefenseLawyersAreAcceptinganInvitation
toAppealMurderConvictionsObtainedwiththeHelpofJailhouseSnitches,http://articles.latimes.com/198910
20/local/me399_1_defenselawyers.

RequestforFederalInvestigationinOrangeCounty,California
November17,2015
Page15

OrangeCountyrequiresathoroughinvestigationbyanindependententity,onewiththe
authority to investigate longconcealed evidence in the custody of the OCSD and OCDA. The
unwillingnessoftheOCSDandOCDAtoacknowledgethedueprocessimplicationsofthealleged
misconducthasbecomeonlymoreentrenchedasattentiontothesituationhasgrown.Nearlytwo
yearshavepassedsincemanyoftheseissueswerefirstbroughttotheattentionoftheOCDAand
OCSD,allowingthemampletimetodemonstratetheirabilitytobringthemselvesintoconformity
withcoreconstitutionalprinciples.43ItisourfirmbeliefthattheDepartmentofJusticeistheonly
entityequippedtoconductthisinvestigation44andrestorepublicconfidenceinthecriminaljustice
systeminOrangeCounty.45

43

SheriffClicksHerHeelsbutOCSnitchScandalWontGoAway,
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2015/07/sheriff_sandra_hutchens_thinks_her_department_is_innocent_in
_ocs_snitch_scandal.php.

44

InaddressingtheOCDAsrecentlyempanelledinvestigativecommittee,legalprofessionalsandexperts
haveexpressedseriousconcernsaboutthedecisiontocreateapanelcomprisedofmembersselectedbythe
DistrictAttorney.WithregardtotheCaliforniaAGsinvestigationannouncedonthesamedaythattheagencyalso
declareditwouldappealJudgeGoethalsrulinginDekraaitheSheriffandtheChairmanofOrangeCountysBoard
ofSupervisorshavejoinedinraisingconcernsabouttheAGsabilitytoimpartiallyanalyzetherolethatdifferent
agencieshaveplayedinthewrongdoing.TheAGsrecentlyfiledlegalbrief,whichtakesthepositionthattheOCDA
bearsnoresponsibilityforthemisconductandconcealmentfoundinJudgeGoethalsruling,hascorroboratedthe
beliefofmanythattheagencysinvestigatoryfindingswillnecessarilybeconsistentwiththeanalysisand
conclusionssetforthinitsbrief.See,e.g.,Experts:NoHopeforJusticeinOrangeCountyProsecutorScandalwith
CurrentInvestigations,http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/orangecountydistrict
attorney_55a6fc50e4b0c5f0322c5b8e;OCDA'sOfficeThinksReviewCommitteeWillSaveItfromSnitchScandal,
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2015/07/tony_rackauckas_snitch_scandal_washington_post_2015.php;and
Watchdog:IsPanelReviewingUseofO.C.JailhouseInformantsReallyIndependent?,
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/office671724countyattorney.html.

45

NewsreportshavesuggestedthattheDepartmentofJusticeextendedajoboffertooneofthe
prosecutorscentraltothesituationinOrangeCounty,ErikPetersen,aprosecutoridentifiedbyJudgeGoethalsas
havingprovidedtestimonyunderoathwhichhedeemedincredible.Peoplev.DekraaiSupplementalRuling,
http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/SUPPLEMENTALRULINGDekraai03122015.pdf;andCaliforniaProsecutor,
EmbroiledinControversyOverUseofInformants,WontBeComingtoOmaha,
http://www.omaha.com/news/metro/californiaprosecutorembroiledincontroversyoveruseofinformants
won/article_6f6130bef8905bb3bd037fcbeb7c43a3.html.Moreover,attorneysfromtheUnitedStatesAttorneys
OfficeinOrangeCountyrecentlyindicatedthattheymaycallDeputyTunstallasanexpertwitnessataforthcoming
MexicanMafiatrial,andwillseektoblockquestioningregardinghistestimonyattheDekraaihearingsdespite
evidenceofdishonestyduringthosehearingsandJudgeGoethalsfindings.SuspectedMexicanMafiaLeaderBacks
OutofPleaDeal,HeadedtoFederalTrial,http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ojeda686395mexicanmafia.html.To
avoidtheappearanceofanyconflict,theDepartmentofJusticemaywishtoconsideraninvestigationbythe
InspectorGeneral.IrrespectiveofwhattheDepartmentconcludesinthatregard,therecanbenodoubtthatthe
DepartmentofJusticehasjurisdictiontoconsiderthesequestions.

RequestforFederalInvestigationinOrangeCounty,California
November17,2015
Page16

Conclusion

Accordingly,theundersignedrespectfullyrequestthattheUnitedStatesDepartmentof
JusticecommenceaninvestigationoftheOrangeCountyDistrictAttorneysOfficeandtheOrange
CountySheriffsDepartment.

Signed:

ErwinChemerinsky:ErwinChemerinskyisthefoundingDeanandDistinguishedProfessorofLaw,
and Raymond Pryke Professor of First Amendment Law, at the University of California, Irvine
School of Law, with a joint appointment in Political Science. His areas of expertise are
constitutionallaw,federalpractice,civilrightsandcivilliberties,andappellatelitigation.InJanuary
2014, National Jurist magazine named Dean Chemerinsky the most influential person in legal
educationintheUnitedStates.

JohnVandeKamp:JohnVandeKampiscounselattheLosAngelesofficeofthelawfirmMayer
Brown,whereheisamemberoftheGovernmentpractice.Inagovernmentalcareerspanning
some30years,hehasservedasU.S.AttorneyforCaliforniasCentralDistrict,thefirstFederal
PublicDefenderfortheCentralDistrict,LosAngelesCountyDistrictAttorney(19751983),and
CaliforniaAttorneyGeneral(19831991).

RequestforFederalInvestigationinOrangeCounty,California
November17,2015
Page17

Cosignedbythebelowlistedindividualsandorganizations:

Robert Bloom: Robert M. Bloom, Professor of Law at Boston College, is an expert on criminal
informantsandtheauthorofthebookRatting:TheUseandAbuseofInformantsintheAmerican
CriminalJusticeSystem.ProfessorBloomhashadlegalexperienceasacriminalattorneybothas
aprosecutorandadefenselawyeraswellasinlegalservicesandcivilrightslaw.
Paul Butler: Paul Butler is a Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he
researches and teaches in the areas of criminal law, race relations law, and critical theory.
ProfessorButlersworkhasbeenprofiledon60Minutes,Nightline,andtheABC,CBS,andNBC
Evening News, among other places.Prior to joining the academy, Professor Butler served as a
federalprosecutorwiththeU.S.DepartmentofJustice,wherehisspecialtywaspubliccorruption.
His prosecutions included a United States Senator, three FBI agents, and several other law
enforcement officials. While at the Department of Justice, Professor Butler also worked as a
SpecialAssistantU.S.Attorney,prosecutingdrugandguncases.
TuckerCarrington:TuckerCarringtonisthefoundingdirectoroftheMississippiInnocenceProject
andAssistantProfessorofLawattheUniversityofMississippiSchoolofLaw.Beforethat,Professor
CarringtonwasanE.BarrettPrettymanFellowatGeorgetownUniversityLawCenter,atrialand
supervising attorney at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, and a visiting
clinicalprofessoratGeorgetown.
JackChin:GabrielJackChinistheMartinLutherKing,Jr.ProfessorofLawattheUniversityof
California,DavisSchoolofLaw,whereheteachescriminallawandprocedure.Hehasextensive
experienceprosecutinganddefendingcriminalcasesinstateandfederalcourts.Hisscholarship
hasappearedintheUniversityofPennsylvania,UCLA,andCornelllawreviews,theHarvardCivil
RightsCivilLibertiesLawReview,andtheYale,Duke,andGeorgetownlawjournals,amongothers.
HisworkhasbeencitedinfourU.S.SupremeCourtopinions,andbymanyothercourts.
AngelaDavis:AngelaJ.DavisisaProfessorofLawattheAmericanUniversityWashingtonCollege
ofLaw,wheresheteachescriminallaw,procedure,anddefense.Shehasservedontheadjunct
facultyatGeorgeWashington,Georgetown,andHarvardLawSchools.ProfessorDavisresearches
andwritesonprosecutorialdiscretionandracisminthecriminaljusticesystem.Herbookwonthe
AssociationofAmericanPublishers2007ProfessionalandScholarlyPublishingDivisionAwardfor
ExcellenceintheLawandLegalStudiesDivision.ProfessorDavishasalsoservedastheExecutive
DirectoroftheNationalRainbowCoalitionandtheDirectorofthePublicDefenderServiceforthe
DistrictofColumbia,whereshepreviouslyworkedasastaffattorney.

RequestforFederalInvestigationinOrangeCounty,California
November17,2015
Page18

Richard Drooyan: Richard Drooyan served as the Chief Assistant United States Attorney under
UnitedStatesAttorneyNoraManellafromJanuary1997toJanuary1999.Inadditiontogeneral
oversightresponsibilityforover235AssistantUnitedStatesAttorneys,hehaddirectsupervisory
responsibilityforcertainprioritycriminalinvestigationsandcases.In1991,Mr.Drooyanservedas
aDeputyGeneralCounselfortheIndependentCommissionontheLosAngelesPoliceDepartment
(the Christopher Commission). In 2000, he served as General Counsel of the Rampart
Independent Review Panel.Mr. Drooyan was a member of the Los Angeles Police Commission
from2010to2013,andservedasPresidentfrom2011to2012.
IngridEagly:IngridEaglyisaProfessorofLawatUCLA.Herprimaryresearchandteachinginterests
include immigration law, criminal adjudication, evidence, and public interest lawyering.
ImmediatelypriortojoiningthefacultyatUCLA,EaglyservedasatrialattorneyfortheOfficeof
theFederalPublicDefenderinLosAngeles.AtUCLA,ProfessorEaglyteachestheCriminalDefense
ClinicandservesasfacultyadvisortotheCriminalJusticeSociety.
LauraFernandez:LauraFernandezisaResearchScholarandSeniorLimanFellowinResidenceat
YaleLawSchool,whereshefocusesonquestionsofprosecutorialmisconductandaccountability.
Priortothat,shewasanattorneywiththePublicandCharitableServiceDepartmentofHolland
andKnight.
Mary Ellen Gale: Mary Ellen Gale, a Professor of Law at Whittier Law School, was an elected
memberoftheACLUNationalBoardofDirectorsfrom1987to2015,andservedonitsExecutive
Committee for sixteen years.A member of the ACLU of Southern California Board of Directors
since 1977, she cochaired its Legal Executive Committee for twenty years.Professor Gale has
authored ACLU appellate briefs for the Supreme Courts of the United States and California,
congressional testimony on criminal justice, and articles on the death penalty and police
misconduct.Sheresearchesandwritesonconstitutionallaw,civilliberties,andcivilrights.
GilGarcetti:GilGarcettiserved32yearsintheLosAngelesDistrictAttorneysoffice,includingtwo
termsastheDistrictAttorneyforLosAngelesCounty,from19922000.Priortohiselection,he
servedasatrialprosecutorintheofficeandwasalsoappointedchiefdeputydistrictattorney.
BrandonGarrett:BrandonGarrettistheThurgoodMarshallDistinguishedProfessorofLawatthe
UniversityofVirginia.ProfessorGarrettsresearchandteachinginterestsinclude,amongothers,
criminal procedure, wrongful convictions, habeas corpus, scientific evidence, civil rights, and
constitutional law. Professor Garrett is the author of the book Convicting the Innocent: Where
CriminalProsecutionsGoWrong,publishedbyHarvardUniversityPress,andTooBigToJail:How
ProsecutorsCompromisewithCorporations,alsopublishedbyHarvardUniversityPress.

RequestforFederalInvestigationinOrangeCounty,California
November17,2015
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BennettGershman:BennettGershmanisoneoftheoriginalfacultymembersatPaceLawSchool
andhastaughtasavisitingprofessoratCornellLawSchoolandSyracuseLawSchool.Aformer
prosecutorwiththeManhattanDistrictAttorneysofficeforsixyears,heistheauthorofnumerous
articlesaswellastwobooksonprosecutorialandjudicialethics.Heservedforfouryearswiththe
SpecialStateProsecutorinvestigatingcorruptioninthejudicialsystem.Heisoneofthenations
leadingexpertsonprosecutorialmisconduct.Heisactiveonseveralbarassociationcommittees,
andisafrequentprobonolitigator.
BruceGreen:BruceGreenistheLouisSteinChairatFordhamLawSchool,wherehedirectsthe
LouisSteinCenterforLawandEthics.Heteachesprimarilyintheareasoflegalethicsandcriminal
law. He has written extensively in these fields, including the chapter on prosecutors ethics in
Professional Responsibility: A Contemporary Approach (2d ed. 2014).Professor Green is a past
chairoftheABACriminalJusticeSection.Healsoservedasamemberoftheethicscommitteesof
theABAandthebarassociationsofNewYorkState,CityandCounty.BeforejoiningtheFordham
faculty,ProfessorGreenwasafederalprosecutorintheSouthernDistrictofNewYork,wherehe
servedasChiefAppellateAttorney.WhileatFordham,heservedparttimeasAssociateCounsel
intheofficeoftheIran/Contraprosecutor.
SamuelGross:SamuelR.GrossistheThomasandMabelLongProfessorofLawatMichiganLaw,
whereheteachesevidence,criminalprocedure,andcoursesonwrongfulcriminalconvictions.His
publishedworkincludesarticlesandbooksonevidencelaw,thedeathpenalty,falseconvictions,
racial profiling, eyewitness identification, and the relationship between pretrial bargaining and
trial verdicts. ProfessorGross is the editor of theNational Registry of Exonerations, which was
launchedinMay2012andmaintainsadetailedonlinedatabaseofallknownexonerationsinthe
UnitedStatessince1989.
KaarynGustafson:KaarynGustafsonisProfessorofLawattheUniversityofCalifornia,IrvineSchool
ofLawandisCoDirectoroftheCenteronLaw,EqualityandRace.Herresearchandscholarshipis
interdisciplinaryandexplorestheroleoflawinbothremedyingandreinforcinginequality.Her
publications have appeared in numerous journals, including the Journal of Criminal Law &
Criminology. Her 2011 book, Cheating Welfare: Public Assistance and the Criminalization of
Poverty,wasawardedtheHerbertJacobBookPrize.
Paul Heaton: Paul Heaton is a Senior Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and
Academic Director of the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice. Much of his
research aims to apply methodological insights from economics to inform issues in legal and
criminal justice policy. An expert on legal and regulatory program and policy evaluation, Dr.
HeatonsresearchhasbeenpublishedinleadingscholarlyjournalssuchastheYaleLawJournal,

RequestforFederalInvestigationinOrangeCounty,California
November17,2015
Page20

NewEnglandJournalofMedicine,JournalofLawandEconomics,JournalofLaborEconomics,and
AmericanJournalofPublicHealth.
DonaldHeller:Priortoforminghisownlawfirmin1977,DonaldH.HellerwasanAssistantDistrict
AttorneyinManhattan.Mr.HellerlaterservedasanAssistantUnitedStatesAttorneyintheUnited
StatesAttorneysOfficeinSacramento,California,andwastheauthoroftheballotinitiativethat
reinstated the death penalty in California in 1978. Mr. Heller was one of several former
prosecutorswhosignedanamicusbriefinPeoplev.ThomasThompson.
PeterJoy:PeterA.JoyisaprofessoratWashingtonUniversityLaw.ProfessorJoyiswellknownfor
hisworkonlegalethics,criminaljustice,andclinicallegaleducation.Hehaswrittenextensively
and presented nationally and internationally on legal ethics and lawyer and judicial
professionalism.HisrecentarticlesincludeConstructingSystemicSafeguardsAgainstInformant
PerjuryandProsecutorsDisclosureObligationsintheU.S.(withProfessorBruceGreen).
Miriam Krinsky: Miriam Aroni Krinsky spent 15 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, where she
served as LAs Chief of the General Crimes Sections, Chief of the Criminal Appellate Section
(overseeingover1,000criminalappeals),chairedthenationalSolicitorGeneralsAdvisoryGroup
onAppellateIssues,andservedontheAttorneyGeneralsAdvisoryCommitteeonSentencing.She
hastaughtattheUCLASchoolofPublicPolicyandLoyolaandSouthwesternLawSchools,served
as the Executive Director of Los Angeles Countys Citizens Commission on Jail Violence
(investigatingallegationsofexcessiveforceinCountyjails),andservedontheLosAngelesEthics
Commission(servingasCommissionPresidentforthreeyears).ShealsoservedontheCalifornia
Judicial Council and was appointed by the California Supreme Court to the State Bar Board of
Trustees,theregulatorybodythatoverseesallCalifornialawyers.
DanielMedwed:ProfessorDanielMedwedteachesCriminalLaw,Evidence,andAdvancedCriminal
Procedure: Wrongful Convictions and PostConviction Remedies at Northeastern University
SchoolofLaw.Hisbook,ProsecutionComplex:AmericasRacetoConvictandItsImpactonthe
Innocent(New York University Press, 2012), explores how even wellmeaning prosecutors may
contributetowrongfulconvictionsbecauseofcognitivebiasesandanoverlydeferentialregime
oflegalandethicalrules.
AlexandraNatapoff:AlexandraNatapoffistheAssociateDeanforResearchandProfessorofLaw
at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. Professor Natapoff is a nationally recognized expert on the
subjectofcriminalinformants.ShehastestifiedbeforeCongress,contributedtofederalandstate
reformlegislation,andherbookaboutinformants,Snitching:CriminalInformantsandtheErosion
of American Justice (New York University Press, 2009), won the 2010 ABA Silver Gavel Award
HonorableMentionforBooks.

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CharlesOgletree:CharlesOgletree,theHarvardLawSchoolJesseClimenkoProfessorofLawand
the Founding and Executive Director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and
Justice,isaprominentlegaltheoristwhohasmadeaninternationalreputationbytakingahard
lookatcomplexissuesoflawandbyworkingtosecuretherightsguaranteedbytheConstitution
foreveryoneequallyunderthelaw.
Lauren Ouziel: Lauren Ouziel is an Assistant Professor at Temple University Beasley School of
Law.Priortoenteringacademia,shewasafederalprosecutorforeightyears,servingintheUnited
States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York and later the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania. Professor Ouziels research and teaching interests include criminal procedure,
evidence, criminal federalism, and perceptions of legitimacy in criminal enforcement and
adjudication. Among other work, she has studied how federal intervention in local criminal
enforcement, both through oversight of and partnership with state and local authorities,
influencesperceptionsoflegitimacy.
L.SongRichardson:L.SongRichardsonisaProfessorofLawattheUniversityofCalifornia,Irvine
SchoolofLaw.Priortothatshewasastateandfederalpublicdefender,andanassistantcounsel
attheNAACPLegalDefenseandEducationalFund,Inc.ProfessorRichardsonsinterdisciplinary
researchuseslessonsfromcognitiveandsocialpsychologytostudycriminalprocedure,criminal
law,andpolicing.ProfessorRichardsonsscholarshiphasbeenpublishedbylawjournalsatYale,
Cornell, Northwestern, the University of Southern California, and the University of Minnesota,
amongothers.
CookieRidolfi:KathleenCookieRidolfiisaProfessorofLawatSantaClaraUniversitySchoolof
LawandthecofounderandformerDirectoroftheNorthernCaliforniaInnocenceProject.In2004,
she cofounded the Innocence Network, an affiliation of organizations dedicated to pursuing
exonerationsonbehalfofwrongfullyconvictedprisonersandworkingtoredressthecausesof
wrongfulconviction.ShewasleadresearcherandcoauthorofPreventableError,AReporton
ProsecutorialMisconductinCalifornia19972009.From20042008,sheservedontheCalifornia
CommissionontheFairAdministrationofJustice,whichwastaskedwiththestudyandreviewof
theadministrationofcriminaljusticeinCalifornia.
ElisabethA.Semel:ElisabethSemelisaClinicalProfessorofLawattheUniversityofCalifornia,
Berkeley,SchoolofLawandthefoundingDirectorofitsDeathPenaltyClinic,whichrepresents
individualsfacingcapitalpunishmentatallstagesoftheproceedings.Inherearlylegalcareer,
Professor Semel worked as a deputy public defender in Solano County and a staff attorney at
Defenders,Inc.,anonprofitcommunitydefenderofficeinSanDiego.ShelaterformedtheSan
DiegofirmofSemel&Feldman,whichrepresentedclientsaccusedofcrimesofviolence,including
capitaloffenses,atthetriallevel.ProfessorSemelhasalsoservedastheDirectoroftheABADeath

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PenaltyRepresentationProject.Herresearchfocusesonracediscriminationintheadministration
ofcapitalpunishment,particularlyasitconcernsjuryselection.
Jonathan Simon: Jonathan Simon is the Adrian A. Kragen Professor of Law and Director of the
CenterfortheStudyofLawandSocietyatBerkeleyLaw.Hisscholarshipconcernstheroleofcrime
and criminal justice in governing contemporary societies. His past work includes two award
winning monographs, Poor Discipline: Parole and the Social Control of the Underclass and
GoverningThroughCrime:HowtheWaronCrimeTransformedAmericanDemocracyandCreated
aCultureofFear.HismostrecentbooksareTheSageHandbookofPunishmentandSocietyand
MassIncarcerationonTrial:ARemarkableCourtDecisionandtheFutureofPrisonsinAmerica.
Alex Whiting: Alex Whiting is a Professor of Practice at Harvard Law School where he teaches,
writes,andconsultsondomesticandinternationalcriminalprosecutionissues.From2010until
2013,hewasintheOfficeoftheProsecutorattheInternationalCriminalCourt(ICC)inTheHague
whereheservedfirstastheInvestigationsCoordinator,overseeingalloftheinvestigationsinthe
office,andthenasProsecutionsCoordinator,overseeingalloftheofficesongoingprosecutions.
BeforegoingtotheICC,WhitingtaughtformorethanthreeyearsasanAssistantClinicalProfessor
ofLawatHarvardLawSchool,againwithafocusonprosecutionsubjects.From20022007,he
wasaTrialAttorneyandthenaSeniorTrialAttorneywiththeInternationalCriminalTribunalfor
the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague. He was lead prosecution counsel inProsecutor v.
Fatmir Limaj, Isak Musliu, and Haradin Bala; Prosecutor v. Milan Martic; andProsecutor v.
DragomirMiloevic.BeforegoingtotheICTY,hewasaU.S.federalprosecutorfortenyears,first
withtheCriminalSectionoftheCivilRightsDivisioninWashington,D.C.,andthenwiththeU.S.
AttorneysOfficeinBoston.
EllenYaroshefsky:EllenYaroshefskyisaclinicalprofessoroflawatCardozoLawandtheExecutive
DirectoroftheJacobBurnsEthicsCenter.Sheisanexpertinlegalethics,cochairoftheA.B.A.s
Ethics,GideonandProfessionalismCommitteeoftheCriminalJusticeSection,andchairofthe
Ethics Committee of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She also serves on
ethicscommitteesofstateandlocalbarassociations,andwasaCommissionerontheStateJoint
CommissiononPublicEthics.

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TheNationalAssociationofCriminalDefenseLawyers
TheNationalAssociationofCriminalDefenseLawyersisthepreeminentorganizationadvancing
themissionofthecriminaldefensebartoensurejusticeanddueprocessforpersonsaccusedof
crime or wrongdoing. A professional bar association founded in 1958, NACDL's approximately
9,200directmembersin28countriesand90state,provincialandlocalaffiliateorganizations
totaling up to 40,000 attorneys include private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders,
military defense counsel, law professors and judges committed to preserving fairness and
promotingarationalandhumanecriminaljusticesystem.

TheConstitutionProject
TheConstitutionProjectisanonpartisanadvocacyandgovernmentwatchdogorganizationthat
bringstogetherpolicyexpertsandlegalpractitionersfromacrossthepoliticalspectrumtofoster
consensusbased solutions to the most difficult constitutional challenges of our time. The
organization undertakes original research, develops policy positions, publishes reports and
statements, files amicusbriefs, testifies before Congress, and holds regular briefings with
legislative staff and other policymakers.TCPs work has been cited by numerous government
agencies,aswellasleadinglawandpolicyorganizations.

TheNationalAssociationofPublicDefense
The National Association of Public Defense is a membership organization comprised of almost
11,000 practitionermembers within 76 organizations (including 14 statewide systems) and
another600individualmembersthroughmanymorejurisdictionsinall50states.NADPpromotes
strongcriminaljusticesystems,policiesandpracticestoensureeffectivepublicdefense;pursues
systemreformthatincreasesfairnessforindigentclients;anddeliverseducationandsupportof

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publicdefenders/advocatesandpublicdefenderleaders.NAPDismemberledanditsagendais
memberset.NAPDiscommittedtobuildingacommunitythatisinclusiveofmembersofthemany
diverse professions that are essential to public defense delivery, and to be able to contribute
informationandsolutionasthevoiceofpractitionersthemselves.

CaliforniaAttorneysforCriminalJustice
CaliforniaAttorneysforCriminalJustice(CACJ)wasformedin1973.Today,ithasgrowntoover
2,000members.CACJisthecountry'slargeststatewideorganizationofcriminaldefenselawyers.
TheCACJworkstodefendtherightsoftheaccused,providesqualitycontinuinglegaleducation
courses,preservesdueprocess,andprotectstheindependenceofthecriminaldefenselawyer.

CaliforniaPublicDefenderAssociation
TheCaliforniaPublicDefendersAssociation(CPDA)isthelargestorganizationofcriminaldefense
attorneys in the State of California. Our membership includes over 3,000 attorneys who are
employedaspublicdefendersorareinprivatepractice.CPDAhasbeenaleaderincontinuinglegal
educationfordefenseattorneysforover30yearsandisrecognizedbytheCaliforniaStateBaras
anapprovedproviderofMandatoryContinuingLegalEducation.Weregularlyprovidecontinuing
legaleducationinallareasofcriminalpractice,includinglegalethics.CPDAalsocontributestothe
development of law in both the legislative arena, through advocacy before the California
Legislature,andinthejudicialarena,throughitsamicusworkbeforetheCaliforniaSupremeCourt,
theUnitedStatesSupremeCourt,andthelowerstateandfederalappellatecourts.

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TheACLUofCalifornia,withsupportfromACLUNationalandWashingtonLegislativeOffices
The three California affiliatesACLU of Northern California, ACLU of Southern California, and
ACLUofSan Diego&ImperialCountieshavealong,successfulhistoryofworkingtogetherto
protectandpromotecivilliberties.Thougheachaffiliateisautonomousandhastheexclusiveright
toguidetheworkinitsjurisdiction,wecometogethertomaximizeourstatewideimpactonissues
forthebenefitofcivilliberties.Whenourworkisdoneonbehalfofallthreeaffiliates,particularly
in highimpact statewide litigation and collaborative legislative efforts, it is more powerful and
effectiveinconveyingthestrengthofthestatewideACLUpresence.Whilethisletteroriginatesin
theACLUofCaliforniaaffiliates,theACLUNationalandtheWashingtonLegislativeOffices,arealso
insupport.