David N. Dinkins, Michael A. Cardozo, Zachary W. Carter, Hon. Prosecutorial and judicial independence means the ability of a judge or a prosecutor to decide the matter without any influence over the decision maker other than the facts before him or her. However, decisions often involve controversial cases and are made in the face of criticism. Daily courage is required of judges and prosecutors who operate in the public eye and could be subject to media scrutiny, criticism by political figures, and election or appointive pressures.
Judicial decisions are often complex and controversial, and can be easily misrepresented.
A few recent media reports grossly misstated the relationship between judicial decisions and the applicable legislature, distorted the facts and the issues of the cases. Political leaders and the media went on to paint the judiciary and prosecutors as pro-criminal, lacking common sense. However, because the judges' work and professional lives are controlled by different set of rules than those of judicial critics, judicial communication with the press and the ability to correct misstatements are limited. Consequently, the public, inadequately informed, is losing confidence in the system. Judges and prosecutors are not above criticism, they are accountable to public and understand that a certain level of scrutiny is warranted and expected.