The recent criticism of Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill and his office for declining to file some sex abuse cases is entirely unjustified and unfair.
A prosecutor, regardless of his or her political stripe, has a duty to only file cases when they believe they have a reasonable likelihood of obtaining a conviction. It would be unethical for a prosecutor to file charges unless he believes he has admissible evidence to convict an accused.
Prosecutors must also consider the enormous consequences of filing criminal charges against a citizen who is presumed innocent.
Declining to file charges is not a sign that a prosecutor isn't doing their job. The decision to not file charges means that a prosecutor has done his job by reviewing the evidence and deciding in good faith that the facts do not justify criminal prosecution. That's the way our criminal justice system is supposed to operate.
Walter F. Bugden Jr., Salt Lake City
