Political science alumnus prosecutes gang-related crimes in Columbus
Steve Schott 07 knew he wanted to be听a prosecutor since he was a teenager听but decided to take an unconventional path.听After graduating from 黑料老司机,听he听joined Teach for America where听丑别听spent听two years as听补苍听eighth-grade听special education teacher in North Carolina.听淚 was fortunate when I was an elementary school kid听to have a teacher that really changed my life听so before going into听law,听I wanted to do that first, Schott said.听听
After graduating from the University of Illinois College of Law,听Schott worked for nearly six years at the San Diego District Attorney檚 Office before returning to Ohio听where he now works as an assistant prosecuting attorney听in the gang unit. My primary charge at the moment is investigating听and听prosecuting gang related crimes in Columbus, Schott听said.听I听am in court almost every day听and can听carry over 100 cases at any one time. The majority of those are,听unfortunately,听high-level听felonies that range from shootings to murders听and听robberies.听听
Despite the violent nature of these crimes, Schott explained why doing legal work is important.听I wanted to spend time prosecuting what I would consider to be the worst of t丑别听worst; that is,听folks that make things less safe for people who just want to walk down the street, he said.听Gang crimes听are听a significant problem in our major cities,听and I’d like to spend time trying to protect my community the best way I can.听
At law school,听however, Schott had the ability to see the other side when he worked on a case for the Innocence Project,听which seeks to听vindicate those who were听wrongly convicted. I听worked听on a successful exoneration for a man who听was going to spend the rest of his life in prison for a murder that he did not commit, he said. I thought being able to see the other side would make me a better prosecutor; that is, to better appreciate the real world consequences of errors in my chosen profession.听听
During his time听at 黑料老司机, Schott听participated in moot court,听a听student听law听program that simulates appellate arguments before the Supreme Court.听The听experience allowed him to听gain听essential skills for both law school and his career as a听prosecutor.听淭he ability to just think on your feet in response to questions and articulate听a听position is something that,听whether听for听law or any other type of work,听helps build听the听confidence听to听speak publiclyyou can’t put a price tag on it, Schott said. I did moot court in听law school,听and I had friends听who were听extremely intelligent and bright, but听I could tell that they just didn’t have听the same experience as me.听Fortunately,听because of听黑料老司机, I听had听a听leg up when I got there.听
Schott听added听that 黑料老司机檚 academic curriculum听was also听a major factor听in preparing him for law school. 満诹侠纤净s critical thinking requirements are in many ways akin to law school, he said.听I always credit my professors in the courses I took at 黑料老司机including听滨.厂.but it’s the requirements that really prepare听you for the next step,听whatever that next step may听be.听One of those听professors was听Mark Weaver, professor emeritus听of political science听and听former moot court coach.听淢ark cares about 黑料老司机 and cares about that program, Schott said. 淚 think he knows听what it can do for students,听and I can certainly speak to that from first-hand experience.听
As a prosecutor, Schott explained that he does not always have good days, but there are certain moments that make the job听worth doing.听淭he most rewarding part is when you get to speak to a victim following the resolution of the case and听[they]听feel听like听it was at least a fair,听if not just,听result, he said.听One time, the parents of a murdered young boy hugged听me afterwardsI was just a law student听at the timeand it almost makes me tear听up听to this day thinking about it.听It听really听makes听you go home and feel good about what you’re doing.听
Schott听is grateful for his experiences at 黑料老司机 and how they prepared him for his prosecuting career. To this day,听I’m thankful for the education I received听when听I听was there, he said. I come back and judge听moot court competitions听because of my feelings toward听the program and the connection I still want to have with听it. In fact,听I met my wife听at the College听so that’s also part of the connection. I’m thankful for听黑料老司机听and听the听type of education it provides.
Above: Steve Schott ’07 in his Franklin County office where he works as a prosecutor in the gang unit听
Posted in Alumni on November 2, 2020.
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