Column: Working for justice
July, 13 2009-- On March 25, 2008, a criminal out on parole brutally murdered Scott Noel, a farmer in Osborne County. Scott was a husband, a father of three wonderful kids, and beloved in his community. He was executed in his own home with his own gun.
I was honored to lead the law enforcement team and personally prosecute the defendant before an Osborne County jury-becoming the first sitting attorney general to do so in more than 34 years. I have great respect for our legal system and those who work in it. Dedicated law enforcement, judges, attorneys and citizens are required to make our system work. And in this case, I saw all those elements come together to bring justice to a family and a community.
As attorney general, I have a great responsibility to the people of Kansas, not only as an administrative leader but as someone who works closely with law enforcement to keep our communities safe.
To be a good leader, I also need to be active in court, setting an example for other attorneys in my office. I can do that by prosecuting criminal cases and arguing before the United States Supreme Court on behalf of Kansas farmers who desperately need precious water for their crops and livestock.
In Kansas, the attorney general is elected. But I do not believe it should be a political job. It is a law enforcement job. I focus each day on bringing some measure of justice to families like the Noels. I focus on representing the best interests of Kansans and defending our resources.
Whether it is prosecuting criminals, arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court, or fighting fraud and abuse in state government, I will be working to keep Kansans safe.