It’s time for a quick civics lesson comparing two state mottos, those of Louisiana and Maine.

Louisiana’s motto is “Union, justice, confidence.” The release Oct. 21 from the state penitentiary at Angola of Henry James, following his exclusion by DNA tests as the perpetrator of a rape for which he was wrongly convicted 30 years ago lends substance to Louisiana’s choice of the word “justice” in its motto.

The Jefferson Parish district attorney confirmed this when he stated, “As district attorney, my obligation to seek justice does not end upon conviction. Rather, my obligation is to continue to follow the evidence. When the evidence reveals an individual was wrongly convicted my office will take action to correct that injustice.”

Compare this to Maine’s motto — “Dirigo,” or “I lead” — and the conduct of the Attorney General’s Office in the case of Dennis Dechaine.

Back in 1993 and still more persuasively in 2004, DNA evidence cast enormous doubt on Dechaine as the perpetrator of a 1988 rape and murder.

Time-of-death analysis in 2010 by two renowned forensic pathologists indicates Dechaine was already under police control when the victim was killed. Police testimony at trial claiming Dechaine confessed has been found to be contradicted by the officers’ own notes. Yet the attorney general did nothing.

In short, the State’s case has been debunked. Yet the attorney general has done nothing.

Maine’s “Dirigo”? It certainly isn’t leading.

Louisiana’s “Justice”? It appears to mean it. Maybe Maine should change its motto to “Non Sequitur.”

Better still will be if Judge Carl O. Bradford grants Dechaine’s motion for a re-trial and thus clears the way to correct an injustice.

Bernie Huebner

Waterville

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