I agree with the listener below that my podcast with Robert Hickey was the most intense of the seven conversations I had with the candidates for city attorney and City Council District 1.
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Hickey is a deputy district attorney with many years under his belt now of prosecuting murder suspects and other ugly, fascinating mysteries. His recounting of a one case, the notorious Dr. J’s murders in Lincoln Park, was particularly riveting.
But so were his answers about why District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis removed him from a management role.
He was removed right before a major controversy hit the unit he was overseeing — gangs. The DA decided to prosecute a group of men that included Aaron Harvey, for mere association with a gang — through social media posts — even admitting he did not commit any violent crimes. Now, she has announced she won’t be doing that again.
I asked Hickey if it was appropriate to prosecute in the first place. He said the response proves it wasn’t.
“Well intended, I think it was well researched. Fine lawyers, outstanding attorneys working on those cases, people in whom I have a great deal of confidence but I think, in the end, the community and the court spoke,” Hickey said.
Hickey is a Republican and just won the endorsement of the local party. This was the final of the four in-depth discussions I had with the city attorney candidates. You can listen to Democrats Mara Elliot, Gil Cabrera and Rafael Castellanos as well.
Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. Stream it here.
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Correction: In the original post, I typed his quote wrong above. It was the “community and the court spoke” not what I had before.