Background: Prosecutions Protecting Children

Monica Brady-Myerov of WBUR reported today on the prosecutions that brought Coakley name recognition –  the baby-shaking case against British au pair Louise Woodward and the child abuse cases against Catholic priests.

“Right from the get-go it was clear that the Woodward case was going to be an extremely high-profile case, an extremely important case for the Middlesex County district attorney’s office,” said David Frank of Lawyers Weekly. “So the fact that Martha Coakley was selected for that case, along with Gerry Leone, is certainly evidence of the fact that she was considered a very bright, important part of that office.”

…The following year, Coakley was elected Middlesex district attorney…

Coakley has also distinguished herself as a prosecutor of clergy who allegedly abused children. In 2002, she was the first DA in the state to bring abuse-related criminal charges against a priest…

“We hope that it serves as a message — and an important message — about the importance of bringing to light as soon as possible incidents of sexual or physical child abuse,” Coakley said.