Attorney And Prosecutorial Misconduct Witnessed By Attorney J. Richard Ratcliffe in Rhode Island

Attorney J. Richard Ratcliffe Complains Of Prosecutorial And Attorney Misconduct By Another Attorney

Complaint One:  Atty. Ratcliffe asserted the following in an appeal in the Derek Hazard case:
When working as a prosecutor, it is reported that Attorney Steven DeLuca showed up unannounced at a meeting with a probation officer and a parolee and told the parolee he would be prosecuted as a probation violator and sent to jail unless he testified "in accordance with the state's version of the truth" in the Derek Hazard case.  It is also asserted that Attorney Steven DeLuca -- who has since left the attorney general's office -- made statements in his final argument to the jury that "may have crossed the threshold of unprofessional conduct."