Taking the low road

THE ISSUE

State Attorney General Troy King and the Alabama District Attorneys Association are at odds over King's decision to attack the Shelby County district attorney's handling of a death penalty case.

When it comes to political grandstanding, Alabama Attorney General Troy King is usually right up there with the best - or worst - of them, depending on your point of view. Even King may have outdone himself with his latest effort, an attack on the Shelby County district attorney for his handling of a death penalty case.

King has criticized District Attorney Robby Owens for making "incredible and outrageous" comments in favor of commuting LaSamuel Gamble's death sentence to life imprisonment without parole. Shelby County Circuit Judge Michael Joiner set aside Gamble's death sentence Sept. 5, in part because of statements made by the district attorney.

Gamble was one of two people convicted of capital murder in the deaths of two people during a pawn shop robbery. The actual shooter, who was 16 at the time, had his death sentence overturned in 2004 by the U.S. Supreme Court, which said juveniles could not be executed for offenses committed while they were underage. Gamble, who was 18 at the time of the robbery, remained under the death sentence.

Owens said that it did not make sense to execute someone who did not do the shooting, while giving the murderer a life sentence.

That seems logical to us and to most of the district attorneys in the state. It also seemed logical to King when he filed a brief in the case with the Supreme Court, arguing against commuting the sentence of the juvenile.

But now King isn't letting logic interfere with demagogic chest-beating. Last week he even staged a news conference that brought one of the victim's family into his political circus.

Ken Davis, president of the Alabama District Attorneys Association, said King has launched a "public media attack to paint a false and negative picture of Owens' actions."

In a statement approved by 41 of the state's 42 district attorneys, including our own here in Lauderdale and Colbert counties, the association called on King to apologize. And the association questioned King's fitness for his job, noting he has no real experience in trial law.

We think the association is right on point. His time in office has been marked by ethical and judgment lapses as well as a continual disinterest in taking the high road.

An attorney general needs a deep understanding and regard for the law, as well as good diplomacy and collaborative skills. So far, King gets low marks in all of those areas.