Van Brett Watkins appeared to be a bit of a sociopath, but there was a ring of truth in much of his story. I had thought for a time about pursuing international law. When I was offered the chance to immerse myself in news and politics, I took it. I continued to incorporate the law in almost everything I do, so I have no regrets. My favorite being a confrontation with a Guatemalan commandant in the middle of the jungle when no one knew where we were.
Every crime is unique, as is each defendant.
To take away discretion from the court to make the punishment fit the crime has been a disaster. As far back as 1995, I was televising my objections to the drug war. I'm referring to a special I did for ABC News. The drug war has been a miserable failure, not only in dollars but in the destruction of so many lives. The media does not always respond in the same fashion in any given trial, so it is necessary when picking a jury today that media input be carefully explored.