Judge Douglas W. Golden declined to order sanctions in Creek County CF-2020-0199, filed for a brady violation that resulted from Assistant District Attorney Steve Rouse failing to disclose an exculpatory witness statement to defense.

In lieu of sanctioning the prosecutor, Judge Golden rescheduled the murder trial to a later date.

Thankfully, the defendant was later acquitted by the jury. Had the brady violation gone undiscovered by the defense prior to trial, the defendant, having been charged with Murder in the first degree, may have been wrongfully convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Failing to hold prosecutors accountable for misconduct contributes to a systemic failure to ensure the rights of all defendants.