Reilly and the DAs publicly opposed such a commission, and Reilly has also not lent his support to current legislative efforts to reform eyewitness identification and interrogation procedures; to provide prisoners with access to forensics testing; and to ensure the preservation of physical evidence. Some legislators and activists also criticize Reilly for holding up the approval of payments under the wrongful-conviction compensation law that passed in 2004.
And, although the MDAA’s Williams insists that the Justice Initiative has remained a high priority for Reilly, she concedes that his office’s direct involvement has been sporadic. Some others directly involved with the Justice Initiative tell the Phoenix they have had virtually no contact with Reilly or his office about it in the past year. “It seems like there has been less attorney-general involvement over time,” one says.
Some observers think that Reilly, who keeps a picture of murder victim Jeffrey Curley on his desk, simply doesn’t agree that there is a need for reforms that, many prosecutors believe, would hamper their ability to convict criminals.
“Tom Reilly has gotten where he is by winning cases, not losing them,” says one prominent local attorney. He points out that Reilly’s experience with the old, outmoded techniques and laboratories when he was Middlesex DA apparently made him more confident in their results. “This is the same guy who, in his mid 40s, after seeing the state’s criminal-justice system up-close, decided that the death penalty was a good idea.”
Related:
Debate and switch, Kicking and screaming, Tom Reilly’s latest screw up, More 
- Debate and switch
By the end of last Thursday’s Democratic gubernatorial debate, it was Kaddish for Tom Reilly, at least according to everybody in the chin-strokerati (except the Boston Herald ’s Howie “Bleep Conventional Wisdom” Carr).
- Kicking and screaming
Every four years, right around Labor Day, the interests of the Massachusetts Democratic Party and the Democratic candidates for governor become almost totally divergent.
- Tom Reilly’s latest screw up
Attorney General Thomas Reilly, who wants to be elected governor, is a proven master at chasing — and capturing — headlines.
- Putting the ‘e’ in campaigns
It’s becoming clear that there’s more to the political blogosphere than just blahg, blahg, blahg.
- Imagine all the Democrats
There are two big things worth knowing about the battle for the Democratic governor’s nomination. The race is a doozy and barely anyone cares.
- The incompetence candidate
When Martin Lomasney ruled Boston’s West End a century ago, dirty tricks were key to his political success — but so was discretion.
- Grading the ads
With just a month to go before primary day in Massachusetts, it’s a good time to issue midterm grades for the gubernatorial advertising campaigns.
- Shadow of a doubt
Every Democrat running for governor can claim victory after last weekend’s party convention in Worcester.
- Gabrieli’s promise
If the Democrats are serious about recapturing the governor’s office, they should make sure their statewide convention this weekend puts Chris Gabrieli’s name on the ballot.
- The Dems are coming
Here are three admittedly subjective, shoot-from-the-hip snapshots of the three Democratic candidates for governor.
- Survivor: Worcester
It’s the question of the moment in state politics: when the Massachusetts Democratic Party wraps up its 2006 convention on June 3, will all three Democratic candidates for governor still be standing?
- Less
Topics:
Talking Politics
, Tom Reilly, Anthony Powell
