DA foes experienced in law
Republican Dan Claitor, Democrat Hillar Moore vying for post
Print
Email
Save
Share
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
When East Baton Rouge voters go to the polls Oct. 4 to choose the parish’s first new district attorney in 18 years, their choices will be two political novices but not strangers to the law.
Hillar Moore III has been in private practice since 1989, primarily as a criminal defense lawyer.
Dan Claitor has been in private practice since 1990. He has a limited defense practice but specializes in business, maritime and other civil litigation.
Moore, a 53-year-old New Orleans native, is a former investigator for the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office.
Claitor, a 47-year-old Baton Rouge native, is a former prosecutor in the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office and a former assistant city attorney in New Orleans.
Both men long ago announced their candidacies for the 19th Judicial District Court District Attorney position when it appeared District Attorney Doug Moreau might step down in the summer of 2006. Moreau, who has held the post since 1991, ultimately decided to remain and will leave office when his term expires Dec. 31.
“It’s like I’ve been running forever,’’ said Moore, a Democrat who considers himself the front-runner. “It’s a very big challenge. It’s one I can’t wait to get started on.’’
Not so fast, says Claitor, a Republican who touts himself as the only one in the race with prosecutorial experience.
“Baton Rouge has become a big city, and we have big-city problems,’’ he said. “I have big-city experience fighting big-city crime.’’
Moore said his 12 years as an investigator in the District Attorney’s Office gave him a unique perspective.
“I’ve worked these cases from the ground up,’’ he said.
Four candidates qualified in July for the District Attorney’s race, but First Assistant District Attorney Prem Burns and lawyer Jonathan Holloway Sr. have dropped out. Burns has said she will support Moore.
Take a bite out of crime
Moore and Claitor agree that much emphasis must be placed on repeat violent offenders to slow down the crime rate.
Claitor proposes creating what he calls a “6% Strike Force’’ to put behind bars the 6 percent of criminals who commit 80 to 90 percent of all crimes.
He said drugs are behind many of those crimes.
Claitor said Baton Rouge has emerged as a big city with big-city problems.
His mantra: “Absolutely tough on crime and take a big-city approach.’’
Moore said the District Attorney’s Office handles about 15,000 new criminal cases each year, but he said about 5,000 violent crimes are committed annually by about 200 to 250 people.
“There are identifiable people that are responsible for a large percentage of the crime,’’ he said, adding that he will “pay special attention to’’ violent repeat offenders.
Moore said Baton Rouge does not merely have a crime problem.
“Baton Rouge also has a witness problem,’’ he said. “We have to do a better job of protecting the witnesses and a much better job of protecting victims.’’
Moore wants to strengthen the witness victim coordinator positions in the District Attorney’s Office to make sure the office communicates with victims and families of crime victims.
Let’s make a deal
Claitor said there will be more emphasis on properly charging defendants and less plea bargaining if he is elected district attorney.
“They’re going to get charged with what the facts support — not over, not under,’’ he said.
To his critics, Claitor said such a system will not “clog up’’ the courts. To the contrary, he said it will compress the time it takes to resolve cases.
“If we’re not trying cases, we’re not doing the District Attorney’s job, in my opinion,’’ he added. “We sure won’t be afraid to try cases.’’
Moore said plea-bargaining is a necessary component of the criminal justice system.
“There’s a give and take in the justice system,’’ he said. “It’s not always give; it’s not always take.’’
Moore said he will allow plea-bargaining “only if it’s the right thing to do.’’
Crime, Capital Punishment
Both men back the death penalty.
“No opposition to it. There are cases that deserve the death penalty,’’ Moore said. “That is a tough decision. It will not be an easy one.’’
Asked if he would pursue the death penalty as vigorously as Moreau did during his terms, Claitor offered this response.
“I have agreed with each of the cases that he’s sought the death penalty, so if that’s aggressive, yes,’’ he said.
“You have to be certain it’s appropriate,’’ he added.
Zero tolerance
Claitor said he will establish a public corruption unit, saying there is more public corruption in state and local government than meets the eye.
“The public corruption prosecution heretofore is not a barometer of what there is,’’ he said.
Claitor said the district attorney of East Baton Rouge has the authority and duty to investigate and prosecute all public corruption cases in state and local government, and he intends to use that authority to help Gov. Bobby Jindal do exactly that.
Moore, who was the chief investigator in former District Attorney Bryan Bush’s public integrity section, said he will not tolerate corruption by public officials.
“They’re the people who have the power,’’ he said of public officials who violate the public’s trust. “They have the power to do the right thing, and they do the wrong thing.’’
Rolling up their sleeves
Even though the winner will be in charge of a 120-person office, including 48 prosecutors, both men said they will be seen and heard in the community.
Moore said he will engage community leaders and faith-based groups.
“I want their input,’’ he said.
Claitor said he also will partner with nongovernmental organizations to help juveniles “get on the right track.’’
Moore said the crime focus cannot be solely on adult offenders.
“Juveniles have to be paid attention to, but we have to pay attention before they become violent juvenile offenders,’’ he said.
Hillar Moore III has been in private practice since 1989, primarily as a criminal defense lawyer.
Dan Claitor has been in private practice since 1990. He has a limited defense practice but specializes in business, maritime and other civil litigation.
Moore, a 53-year-old New Orleans native, is a former investigator for the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office.
Claitor, a 47-year-old Baton Rouge native, is a former prosecutor in the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office and a former assistant city attorney in New Orleans.
Both men long ago announced their candidacies for the 19th Judicial District Court District Attorney position when it appeared District Attorney Doug Moreau might step down in the summer of 2006. Moreau, who has held the post since 1991, ultimately decided to remain and will leave office when his term expires Dec. 31.
“It’s like I’ve been running forever,’’ said Moore, a Democrat who considers himself the front-runner. “It’s a very big challenge. It’s one I can’t wait to get started on.’’
Not so fast, says Claitor, a Republican who touts himself as the only one in the race with prosecutorial experience.
“Baton Rouge has become a big city, and we have big-city problems,’’ he said. “I have big-city experience fighting big-city crime.’’
Moore said his 12 years as an investigator in the District Attorney’s Office gave him a unique perspective.
“I’ve worked these cases from the ground up,’’ he said.
Four candidates qualified in July for the District Attorney’s race, but First Assistant District Attorney Prem Burns and lawyer Jonathan Holloway Sr. have dropped out. Burns has said she will support Moore.
Take a bite out of crime
Moore and Claitor agree that much emphasis must be placed on repeat violent offenders to slow down the crime rate.
Claitor proposes creating what he calls a “6% Strike Force’’ to put behind bars the 6 percent of criminals who commit 80 to 90 percent of all crimes.
He said drugs are behind many of those crimes.
Claitor said Baton Rouge has emerged as a big city with big-city problems.
His mantra: “Absolutely tough on crime and take a big-city approach.’’
Moore said the District Attorney’s Office handles about 15,000 new criminal cases each year, but he said about 5,000 violent crimes are committed annually by about 200 to 250 people.
“There are identifiable people that are responsible for a large percentage of the crime,’’ he said, adding that he will “pay special attention to’’ violent repeat offenders.
Moore said Baton Rouge does not merely have a crime problem.
“Baton Rouge also has a witness problem,’’ he said. “We have to do a better job of protecting the witnesses and a much better job of protecting victims.’’
Moore wants to strengthen the witness victim coordinator positions in the District Attorney’s Office to make sure the office communicates with victims and families of crime victims.
Let’s make a deal
Claitor said there will be more emphasis on properly charging defendants and less plea bargaining if he is elected district attorney.
“They’re going to get charged with what the facts support — not over, not under,’’ he said.
To his critics, Claitor said such a system will not “clog up’’ the courts. To the contrary, he said it will compress the time it takes to resolve cases.
“If we’re not trying cases, we’re not doing the District Attorney’s job, in my opinion,’’ he added. “We sure won’t be afraid to try cases.’’
Moore said plea-bargaining is a necessary component of the criminal justice system.
“There’s a give and take in the justice system,’’ he said. “It’s not always give; it’s not always take.’’
Moore said he will allow plea-bargaining “only if it’s the right thing to do.’’
Crime, Capital Punishment
Both men back the death penalty.
“No opposition to it. There are cases that deserve the death penalty,’’ Moore said. “That is a tough decision. It will not be an easy one.’’
Asked if he would pursue the death penalty as vigorously as Moreau did during his terms, Claitor offered this response.
“I have agreed with each of the cases that he’s sought the death penalty, so if that’s aggressive, yes,’’ he said.
“You have to be certain it’s appropriate,’’ he added.
Zero tolerance
Claitor said he will establish a public corruption unit, saying there is more public corruption in state and local government than meets the eye.
“The public corruption prosecution heretofore is not a barometer of what there is,’’ he said.
Claitor said the district attorney of East Baton Rouge has the authority and duty to investigate and prosecute all public corruption cases in state and local government, and he intends to use that authority to help Gov. Bobby Jindal do exactly that.
Moore, who was the chief investigator in former District Attorney Bryan Bush’s public integrity section, said he will not tolerate corruption by public officials.
“They’re the people who have the power,’’ he said of public officials who violate the public’s trust. “They have the power to do the right thing, and they do the wrong thing.’’
Rolling up their sleeves
Even though the winner will be in charge of a 120-person office, including 48 prosecutors, both men said they will be seen and heard in the community.
Moore said he will engage community leaders and faith-based groups.
“I want their input,’’ he said.
Claitor said he also will partner with nongovernmental organizations to help juveniles “get on the right track.’’
Moore said the crime focus cannot be solely on adult offenders.
“Juveniles have to be paid attention to, but we have to pay attention before they become violent juvenile offenders,’’ he said.
 | ||||
| Most Popular | Most Emailed | Hot Topics | ||
