You can’t reform a justice system if you don’t even know who the liars are.
That’s the brutal truth behind Brady and Giglio lists, rosters of cops and prosecutors with credibility problems so severe that courts are supposed to disclose them in criminal cases.
These lists aren’t about politics. They’re about the Constitution. The Supreme Court’s rulings in Brady v. Maryland and Giglio v. United States make it crystal clear: the government must hand over evidence that could impeach its own witnesses. That means when an officer has a track record of lying on the stand, planting evidence, or covering up misconduct, defendants have a right to know.
But here’s the catch: in too many counties, these lists are locked in a drawer or don’t exist at all.
Police unions regularly fight their release. Prosecutors will quietly shuffle names without ever telling defense attorneys. And the public, whose tax dollars bankroll these same departments, is left completely in the dark.
Why Secrecy Is Deadly
Secrecy breeds repeat offenders. When the same discredited officer keeps testifying in case after case, people get wrongfully convicted. Families are broken. Communities lose trust. And taxpayers foot the bill for settlements when the truth finally comes out.
This isn’t transparency; it’s obstruction dressed up in as a cute little procedure. If we’re serious about ending wrongful convictions, Brady/Giglio lists can’t be hidden. They must be public. Period.
How Clutch Is Changing the Game
That’s why Clutch Justice is building a Brady/Giglio public database. We’re cutting through the secrecy, gathering documents, and creating a centralized resource where anyone can see which officers and prosecutors have credibility issues.
Defense attorneys shouldn’t have to beg. Families shouldn’t have to guess. And journalists shouldn’t have to FOIA their way through stonewalls.
We’re putting this information where it belongs: in the hands of the people.
Pulling It Together
One of my favorite adages, something I’ve said before clutch even became an independent news desk, is that sunlight is the best disinfectant. If a cop’s word can put someone in prison, the public has a right to know whether that word is worth anything.
Clutch Justice isn’t waiting for the courts to grow a conscience; we’re building the tools now.
Stay tuned. The database is coming. And once it’s live, secrecy won’t be an option anymore.
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