Prosecutor justifies attendance at seminars

Prosecutor justifies attendance at seminars
EDITOR:
Since I was attending a seminar in San Diego, California, on forensic evidence, this is my first opportunity to respond to the attendance of prosecutors at seminars put on by the National College of District Attorneys, a division of the National District Attorneys Association of which I am a member.
As stated in the article, all attorneys are required to have 24 hours of continuing education every two years, and they must personally attend the classes. Sending one attorney to a seminar and having that person share the information only fulfills the requirement for the attorney that went to the classes. The others must still earn their own hours.
The speakers at the NCDA seminars are forensic experts recognized nationally by various courts or are attorneys recognized nationally for their expertise in the presentation of forensic evidence. This quality of seminar cannot be put on at the local or state level.
The training and information provided by these seminars is valuable. One of our assistants went to a forensic seminar in San Francisco in November 2000, where he learned that the FBI scientists were studying the chemical composition of bullets and slugs.
Upon returning from the seminar, he contacted the FBI about analyzing bullets and slugs from a pending triple homicide case. The FBI did the analysis, and subsequently testified at the trial of Anthony Anderson. Mr. Anderson was convicted of three aggravated murders, attempted aggravated murder and aggravated robbery.
Such continuing legal education is a factor in the significant increase in convictions and incarcerations by this administration as compared to the previous administration.
Finally a point of correction, the only expense paid by the Mahoning County Prosecutor's Office for Attorney Duffrin's attendance at this seminar was the seminar registration fee. All other expenses, including travel, were paid by Attorney Duffrin.
TIMOTHY E. FRANKEN
Youngstown
X The writer is chief of the Criminal Division of the Mahoning County Prosecutor's Office
Only doctors decide who is handicapped
EDITOR:
On Dec. 9 at 4 p.m., upon returning to my car parked legally in a handicapped zone near Sam's Club in Niles, I found that some ignorant person had left a note on my car exclaiming, "You don't look handicapped to me. & quot;
What this person should have done, instead of skulking around the parking lot leaving notes about things he or she knows nothing about, was to have waited for me to come out. I would have gladly shown him or her the 12-inch scar from my open heart surgery two years ago, the latest one of three surgeries.
All of these have failed. -- thus my need for a handicap placard.
If the person who left the note doesn't have the nerve to confront someone personally about such a matter, and they are so sure someone shouldn't be using a handicap spot, they should immediately call the police.
After all the pain I have been through with my condition and surgeries, that note hurt me more. So please show some consideration.
J.S. SZAKACS
Niles
Hunters have means to help feed the hungry
EDITOR:
The USDA states that more than 1.2 million people in Ohio suffer from or are at risk of hunger. Many government programs help stop hunger but they aren't enough to solve this problem.
I feel that no child in Ohio, or anywhere else, should go to bed hungry. Food drives are held at many schools, churches and other facilities. I've been looking for other ways to help solve this problem and have found that hunters like me can help unfortunate people by donating game.
Through the program Hungers Share the Harvest, you may donate all or a portion of your game. The program collects venison and distributes it to the needy. I hope to see a change for the better concerning this social problem and urge other hunters and anyone else to join in on one of these solutions.
KEITH SUCHORA
Struthers
X The writer is Struthers High School student in the American history class of Ralph Sandy.