The situation that unfolded in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Eileen A. Gallagher’s courtroom in the matter of State of Ohio v. Holliman is but one more example of Ohio’s need of fair discovery ("Judge blasts prosecutors over evidence,” June 24).

Defendants should be aware of all evidence for and against them. The Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s system of closed discovery highlights once again that those presumed innocent are being deprived of fair trials.

Continual examples of wrongful convictions and situations like that seen in the Holliman case refute any claims by prosecutors that the current system works. Charged with aggravated murder, the Holliman defendants were told there was no DNA evidence. Additional pertinent evidence was not provided to the defense before trial. The defense lawyers learned that the prosecution’s representation was inaccurate.

Until fair discovery is instituted in Ohio, we are guaranteed to see more crime. This crime is the unfair prosecution of people who may be wrongfully convicted because they never were presented with all the evidence.

Ian Friedman, Cleveland

Friedman is the president of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.