D.A. Pamela Price Commemorates Domestic Violence Awareness Month with 21st Annual Day of Remembrance
By Haaziq Madyun
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price filed a motion to disqualify Michael Rains and his firm, Rains, Lucia, Stern, St. Phalle & Silver, from continued representation of San Leandro Police Officer Jason Fletcher.
Fletcher is charged with voluntary manslaughter for killing Steven Taylor in a crowded Walmart store on April 18, 2020.
Michael Rains, Fletcher’s defense attorney, misappropriated privileged attorney work product from the D.A.’s Office.
Rains obtained the privileged material from his client, former Alameda County prosecutor Amilcar “Butch” Ford. At the time, Ford was on paid administrative leave for alleged prosecutorial misconduct.
“Today my office took a stand for justice,” said Price. “We filed a motion to disqualify the law firm Rains, Lucia, Stern, St. Phalle & Silver, based on their unethical and improper breach of the professional rules of professional conduct as well as a violation of the standards of ethics that apply to lawyers.”
“We are protecting the integrity of the judicial system both by moving to disqualify Rains, Lucia, Stern, St. Phalle & Silver and by prosecuting their former client, Amilcar Butch Ford,” said Price.
“Defendant Fletcher’s decision to shoot Steven Taylor in Walmart was a traumatizing event for the entire community and was acknowledged worldwide as an act of violence that should not go unredressed. We are standing up for the family of Steven Taylor, and for this community and we will continue to fight for justice for his survivors.”
Both sides will return to court on Nov. 20, 2023.
Haaziq Madyun is the communications director for the office of the Alameda County District Attorney.
