MARSHALL, TX, January 15, 2010
/24-7PressRelease/ -- A Texas Ranger Lieutenant, a prosecuting attorney, a private defense attorney, and an appellate judge spoke to the students about their roles in the criminal justice system in November, 2009. The success of the presentation encouraged the college to plan more such educational sessions in 2010.
According to ETBU Professor of Criminal Justice, Dr. Wayne Johnston, "By inviting these criminal justice professionals on campus the student is being exposed to issues and points of view that are often overlooked by mainstream texts and publications."
The speakers on the panel were Texas Ranger Lt. Tony Bennie, Harrison County Assistant Criminal District Attorney Ashley Perkins, private defense attorney Bob Cole, and retired Chief Justice William J. Cornelius of the Sixth District Court of Appeals for the State of Texas. The panel presentation held in the ETBU Board Room located in Marshall Hall was attended by students majoring in criminal justice, psychology, and sociology, as well as faculty members from the School of Natural and Social Sciences.
Lt. Bennie stated that the Texas Rangers have been established since 1823. He then explained to the students various responsibilities of the agency, which include assisting local law enforcement agencies with the investigation of criminal cases.
"When a local law enforcement agency asks for our assistance we bring with us all the resources the Texas Department of Public Safety has to offer," said Lt. Bennie, who is stationed in Tyler, Texas. "All Texas Rangers are very highly trained in crime scene investigation."
Perkins, who majored in English and Theatre Performance, shared with the students how her undergraduate degree has helped her in her chosen profession as a lawyer. "If I can read and write well and also act, I can be a good lawyer," said the prosecuting attorney. "As a lawyer you have to be able to get up before the jury and persuade them to your side."
"I have a very rewarding job," said Perkins. "The number one job of a prosecutor is to see that justice is done. The criminal justice system is not perfect but you keep at it."
After Perkins spoke, defense lawyer Cole shared with the audience that he has been asked how he can represent someone who has been accused of a crime. "I can do it because when the incident happened I was not there. I am looking at the facts trying to get a resolution and represent my client to the best of my ability."
The Longview attorney asked the students, "If you got in trouble, how many of you would want your lawyer to represent you to the best of their abilities? My job as a defense lawyer is to, not necessarily to make the charge go away, but make sure everyone involved follows the rules. My job also is to advise my client what his or her best course of action might be, according to the law."
Judge Cornelius, who attended the foundational school of ETBU, the College of Marshall, has been practicing law since 1949. In 1973, Governor Dolph Briscoe appointed him as Chief Justice of the Sixth District Court of Appeals for the State of Texas, where he was elected to the seat six times.
"Most people would tell you that the role of a judge is to do justice, to be fair, and bring justice. Actually that is not a real accurate statement," explained Judge Cornelius to the attentive audience. "A judge is not supposed to do justice or fairness as he sees it, or how he thinks it might be. A judge is to fairly apply the law. The law itself is justice. The law itself is fair."
The judge also talked to the students about the content of his book, Swift and Sure: Bringing Certainty and Finality to Criminal Punishments. Judge Cornelius proposes radical changes in the criminal justice system through swiftness and certainty of punishment as the best deterrents to crime.
East Texas Baptist University offers online education programs in partnership with The Learning House, Inc. The ETBU Criminal Justice Program is in its inaugural year. For information call 903-923-2095 or visit http://etbu.educampusonline.com.
East Texas Baptist University (www.etbu.edu) is a four-year, liberal arts institution located in Marshall, Texas. It is one of eight historically Southern Baptist-related institutions affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Since 1912, East Texas Baptist University has provided a quality, liberal arts curriculum to students.
The Learning House, Inc. (www.learninghouse.com) is a comprehensive online education solutions partner that helps colleges and universities offer and manage their online degree programs.
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