Letter: Del Papa out of bounds with letter to regents

Thursday, June 1, 2000 | 9:48 a.m.

Those who are not well versed in the law may think it is the attorney general's job to write chastising letters to public officials who, she believes, have violated the law. However, the attorney general's obligation is to prosecute those who have violated the law, not to write letters.

To put the attorney general's letters in perspective, suppose someone burglarized your home and your district attorney sent the burglar a letter admonishing his conduct.

There are only two conceivable reasons for a district attorney's failure to prosecute. The first possibility is that the district attorney is an incompetent. The second is that the district attorney does not have a case, but has decided to exploit the power of her office and to throw mud for political reasons.

As a citizen, I support the open meeting law. As a regent, I invite the attorney general to commence a civil or criminal prosecution to show the citizens of Nevada that she really has a case. If the attorney general fails to institute a prosecution, it is obvious that she cannot prove a violation of the law. If she obtains a conviction, she will be vindicated.

It is your turn, Frankie Sue.

DOUGLAS R. HILL

Regent, University and Community College System of Nevada