Salt Lake Telegram | 1934-04-03 | Page 6 | A Deserved Reprimand

A DESERVED REPRIMAND GENERAL JOSEPH CHEZ A ATTORNEY Monday ronday rebuked prosecutors who arbitrarily arbitrarily arbi arbi- refuse to issue complaints when a proper prop prop- er showing is made that laws Jaws are arc being violat- violat ed The specific instances which brought forth this this- reprimand from the states state's chief legal officer of- of fleer were cases wherein complainants had bad sought to to initiate prosecution for violations of the produce dealers dealers' license law lii III the protests protests pro pro- tests lodged with the attorney general it was explained that complaints had been withheld because county attorneys were unwilling to bring charges until the constitutionality of the tho law law had had been established in court Very properly the attorney general points out that it is not within the province of a 8 county attorney to assume to pass upon the constitutionality of the law lav The law stands on the books When a 8 violation is brought to official attention there is art an obligation to prosecute The he license law is far front from being the only one to clutter uP enforcement Day by da day citizens report their inability to obtain issuance of complaints Granted that on occasion occasion oc- oc casion there is for refusal there is no justification for the too ge general eral habit of prosecuting attorneys to set themselves up as judge and jury and dispose of cases single single- handed This is not to say that er e every time a complaint corn com plaint is asked it should invariably be issued LaW officers of cities and counties are arc to have knowledge of the law and of their duties under it They shot should d know heIr they have llave a case ud when they have not Dot It Itis Itis is against those who fail to apply the law to themselves who arc unmindful of their plain duty to the public and whose indolence contributes con con- tributes to tIle the of law violations that thc th attorney ge generals general's cral's admonitions apply There is an opportunity for or the courts and all connected with them to play an important part in fostering respect for law and tute authority This is iR too often offen overlooked