Let’s be blunt: Public defender Susan Weigand would have to be the worst attorney in the world not to get a plea deal for her client, former CMPD officer Marcus Jackson. There is nothing Official Charlotte — starting with CMPD brass, city council, and the DA’s office — wants less than an open courtroom with Jackson holding forth on his tenure with CMPD, which culminated in sexual assault charges against him.
That is why it is a huh? moment to read that Weigand is attempting to block the release of Jackson’s city personnel file because “the release of Jackson’s files while the charges are still pending would thwart the administration of justice, deny the defendant his right to a fair trial and would be a denial of due process of law.”
To the contrary, the release of Jackson’s files are a necessary condition for the administration of justice — both for Jackson and the community at large.
