Mclaughlin committed to fairer justice system

I write to support Gordon Mclaughlin for district attorney for the 8th Judicial District.

As a former district court judge, now retired, I had the pleasure of having Mclaughlin appear many times in my courtroom on a wide range of felony criminal matters, from minor to ver y serious. He was always exceptionally well-prepared, civil, and even-handed.

He could be tough in court, and he never lost sight of the consequences of serious crimes for victims or the need to protect the safety of our community. But he was also practical and dedicated to achieving real results, not just chalking up wins.

In my opinion, based on overseeing hundreds of cases, the current district attorney’s office consistently brings far too many charges, often based on weak evidence, to gain leverage in plea negotiations. In addition, the current office routinely seeks sentences that are needlessly punitive, doing more harm than good and resulting in disrupted lives and a waste of public resources.

I believe that Mclaughlin, unlike his opponent Mitch Murray, is committed to changing these counter-productive practices and creating a criminal justice system that is fairer, more efficient, and better ser ves the citizens of Larimer and Jackson counties.