News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson elected by fellow members to the Executive Committee of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference.
Lawson has been a prosecutor for 21 years, prosecuting cases of every type of offense criminalized within the state. Lawson said he was honored to be elected to the committee.
“On the executive committee we try to look at all aspects of criminal prosecution,” Lawson said. “We try to find areas where we think a law should be stronger and best practices that prosecutors should be using, and to be elected by my peers to be a part of that group it really means a lot to me that they would be such a confidence and trust in me.”
The conference allows district attorney generals to come together from across the state to talk about issues they are having and ways to address them. Lawson said he will focus on continuing to get judicial districts to respect mental health in court cases.
“Last year there was a big movement with respect to mental health,” Lawson said. “I do believe there is still a lot of working that area to be done, so I think that is an area that we will take up this year.”
Lawson said he will use his experience to encourage districts to enforce laws to the standard and help prosecutors in court.
“I’ve seen areas where I wish the law was stronger,” Lawson said. “I’ve seen problems that prosecutors are facing in court and challenges that we are going to have to overcome, and so you know with now having an opportunity to sit down and to talk with the other leaders of the conference what is the best way to approach these different topics. I think that will be very helpful and I’m looking forward to an opportunity to have my voice heard and to really try to make a difference in these areas.”
The executive committee will meet periodically throughout the year to address public safety issues throughout the state. Lawson said the goal of the committee is to make changes to improve the judicial system layout and to leave it better than when they first joined the committee.
