In the justice system, prosecutors have the power to decide what criminal charges to bring, and since 97 percent of cases are resolved without a trial, those decisions are almost always the most important factor in the outcome. That is why it is so important for prosecutors to play fair, not just to win. This obligation is embodied in the Supreme Court’s 1963 holding in Brady v. Maryland, which required prosecutors to provide the defense with any exculpatory evidence that could materially affect a verdict or sentence. (The New York Times)
Numa altura em que o Ministério Público, em Portugal, começa a fazer uma utilização significativa dos meios de consenso na resolução dos litígios penais, a reflexão sobre o to play fair passou a ser uma exigência.
