On Tuesday, the world lost Craig Watkins, the first Black man to be elected to the job of Dallas County District Attorney in Texas in 2007. In age, he was 56. Watkins’ demise was verified by the Dallas County Medical Examiner. According to Russell Wilson of the Dallas County District Attorney’s office, who was Watkins’ coworker, Watkins passed away at his home on Tuesday morning, according to WFAA.
“The Watkins family appreciates all the community calls and outreach of support,” Russell said. “The family would ask that you respect their privacy at this time.” Before Susan Hawk defeated him in 2014, Watkins was the district attorney from 2007 to 2014. During his time in office, he made headlines around the nation by creating the first conviction integrity unit of its kind.
During his time in office, Watkins overturned Bill Hill’s denials of more than 400 cases, leading to the exoneration of 24 individuals. [Hill was a district attorney from 1999 until 2007.] Several examples that utilized DNA to establish innocence were quickly located by the unit. Investigation Discovery’s Dallas DNA is a show on the unit’s work that was inspired by those exonerations.
As Texan of the Year in 2008, he was honored by the Dallas Morning News. In 2017, Watkins recounted his contemplation of challenging Hawk’s appointed successor Faith Johnson in a race, but ultimately chose to maintain his private practice as a defense attorney. Coworkers and friends of his sent condolences as news of his passing circulated Tuesday night.
“I am devastated: it is very tragic.” “Mr. Craig Watkins saved my life,” Christopher Scott expressed on social media Tuesday night. Scott was released from jail in 2010 after spending thirteen years after his innocence was officially confirmed.
So sad my heart is broken Mr. Craig Watkins saved my life .
— Christopher Scott (@ChrisScott2022) December 12, 2023
A statement was made by John Creuzot, the current district attorney for Dallas County, saying, “Those who knew Craig are better for it.” Craig was fully human. I am honored to have been elected to the same office he held, to have served alongside him, and to have known him. In his absence, we mourn.
Watkins was well-respected, but he had a reputation for being easily hurt by criticism and the media’s portrayal of him. He discussed his mistakes philosophically in a 2009 profile with Zac Crain of D Magazine.
“We make mistakes,” he said. “We do things that are wrong. But I think if you’re doing it with a good heart and good intentions and you make a mistake, people are more willing to forgive you and keep you in office and do things for you, as opposed to when you try to cover it up and to hide it.
To try to make you out to be this person that needs to be put on this pedestal and be better than God—I think that’s what we had in the past with politicians locally. Admit your mistakes. Admit the problems that you had. And go on, because everybody has them.”
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