Nick Gady

But instead, the AG's office calls this a subjective opinion that does not raise an issue of extraordinary public importance or any compelling circumstances.

Marshall's office is still actively and aggressively fighting to Forrest's appeals and seeking his execution.

These conflicting positions make me think of those big metal grain silos that you see in the Midwest, with each party in our criminal justice system in its own silo, isolated from the opposing view, trapped in their official position.

I talk with Jeff Wallace about this dynamic.

It does seem like

There are a lot of silos that people are in in the system, and they stay in those silos.

Does that make sense?

So why can't you climb out of the silo?

What if we just all climb out of our silos and nobody's in a silo anymore?

If we're all just kind of out in the open?

Yeah, there's this quote on the outside of the Jefferson County Courthouse that... We are in bondage to the law in order that we may be free.

That's it.

We are in bondage to the law in order that we may be free.

It's a quote from Roman philosopher Cicero.

Why do we have to be in bondage to something to be free?

I guess one thing that we've been thinking about is, like, what is the cost of that bondage?

And is it that sometimes you end up with situations like this?

You may see Jeff Wallace's support for a new trial as a half measure.

He could call the case an injustice and take more accountability for his role into Forrest's conviction.

But a trial prosecutor saying anything that calls a conviction into question is exceptional.