It’s rare for prosecutors to face real scrutiny. “Absolute immunity” allows them to pretty much skate away after maliciously prosecuting an innocent person.

And even when prosecutors are held accountable for their actions, the punishment is minuscule compared to what their victims endure. Take, for instance, Mike Nifong, the prosecutor who went after the Duke Lacrosse team in order to get re-elected. When the case fell apart, Nifong was disbarred and spent one day in jail. That, compared to the scorn, threats and condemnation of the lacrosse players he maligned.