Jefferson County District Attorney Elect Charles Todd Henderson Anticipates Day In Court

January 24, 2017 - PRESSADVANTAGE -

Following an investigation by the Attorney General's Office based on information that was received in December 2016 by the Alabama State Bar, Jefferson County District Attorney Elect Charles Todd Henderson has been indicted on charges of perjury. He was indicted in January 2017, just days before he is supposed to take office as the new Jefferson Country District Attorney. The indictment means he will likely face immediate suspension after he assumes office.

James Parkman, III, attorney for Charles Todd Henderson, points out that Henderson has dedicated his life to serving his community and fellow man. A 30-year resident of Jefferson County, Mr. Henderson, also an Eagle Scout, served in law enforcement both at the state and federal level for more than a decade. Mr. Henderson has served as a defense lawyer for the last 15 years, fighting to provide fair representation and protecting the rights of those accused of crimes. He promoted respect for law and the Constitution for more than half of a century and he upholds service, sacrifice, and commitment to Jefferson County. Recently, the people of Jefferson County elected Mr. Henderson to serve as their District Attorney. Mr. Henderson is the first Democrat to be elected to that office in over 30 years.

Under Alabama law, an indictment prevents a person from carrying out the duties of the position of the District Attorney regardless of the facts giving rise to that indictment. According to James Parkman, this indictment, and its legal effect, is not only an injustice and disservice to Mr. Henderson, but also to the citizens of Jefferson County and the State of Alabama.

"The timing of this indictment is strange," says James Parkman, from the firm Parkman White, LLP. "At 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, seconds after Martin Luther King Jr. Day comes to an end, Mr. Henderson is set to begin work as Jefferson County's new District Attorney. However, mere days before that should happen, the Attorney General's office convened a grand jury that returned an indictment thereby preventing Mr. Henderson from setting foot in office."

Parkman goes on to say that, "The Attorney General's office in Montgomery seized the democratic process with this indictment. They decided that votes don't matter. They decided to take democracy out of Jefferson County. It's a perversion of process that cannot and will not stand. The power of a few should not quell the will of the majority."

The attorney's office states that the charges in the case are false. Parkman says that Mr. Henderson cannot wait to get into court and start fighting this injustice. "If we could start trial tomorrow, we would," the attorney states. "We call on Luther Strange and his office to do the right thing and bring this case to trial as quickly as possible so that the truth can be heard. Dragging out this process - denying Mr. Henderson the right to take office because of a pending indictment is nothing short of oppression because it denies the clear will of the people. The sooner we have a trial, the sooner Mr. Henderson will be acquitted, which will ensure the people's vote and democracy return to Jefferson County."

Due to the many offers of support to aid in fighting the unjust prosecution of district attorney charles todd henderson, the campaign to support the legal defense of mr. Henderson has set up a way for those supporters to help.

The newly elected district attorney of jefferson county is grateful to the many supporters who want to raise awareness and financial support on his behalf.

Send contributions to PO Box 3013, Birmingham, Alabama 35201 or donate online at www.fundrazr.com/b1ct68.

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For more information about Parkman White, LLP, contact the company here:

Parkman White, LLP
William White
(205) 502-2000
wwhite@parkmanlawfirm.com
1929 3rd Ave. N. #700
Birmingham, AL 35203