News Summary
Assistant District Attorney Berkley Mason has been terminated from the Knox County District Attorney’s Office due to alarming social media activity that raised significant ethical and moral concerns. His posts included racist and violent statements, questioning the integrity expected from prosecutors. This decision follows a review of his online activity and marks the second disciplinary action within a year in the office, raising questions about the potential bias in ongoing cases Mason managed.
Knoxville, Tennessee — The Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen announced on Monday that Assistant District Attorney Berkley Mason has been terminated due to alarming social media activity that raised serious ethical and moral concerns. The decision follows a review of Mason’s online posts, which included racist and violent content, suggesting a troubling mindset incompatible with the role of a prosecutor.
Berkley Mason had served in the Knox County District Attorney’s Office since his hiring in October 2024. Allen highlighted that Mason’s posts revealed a disturbing willingness to fabricate evidence and violate the law in pursuit of personal beliefs. Among his more troubling statements, Mason allegedly wrote that prosecutors should fabricate reasons to target individuals and use “whatever means necessary” to achieve their goals.
This firing is the second time within a year that disciplinary action has been taken in Allen’s office, following the suspension and resignation of a former assistant district attorney, Robert DeBusk, who faced allegations of perjury. Allen’s office is now under scrutiny as it seeks to maintain the integrity of the legal system amid these serious allegations.
Content of Social Media Posts
Mason’s social media activity has been reported to include various posts that glorified Nazism while expressing derogatory views towards Black individuals and immigrants. It is said that Mason operated an online account on X (formerly Twitter) with the username “Southern Appalacholic,” where he shared content that further emphasised his extremist views. Specific posts included inflammatory comments like, “We need more migrant killers and less killer migrants,” which could imply a violent and prejudiced stance towards immigration.
Ethical Standards in the District Attorney’s Office
Charme Allen has underscored the necessity of maintaining high ethical standards within her office, asserting that all prosecutors must be “moral, ethical, fair-minded persons” who are committed to applying laws justly. This termination is part of a broader commitment to maintaining the integrity and public trust essential for the prosecutorial role.
Investigative Actions Following the Termination
After discovering the contentious posts through an article on Knox News, Mason promptly deleted both his X and LinkedIn accounts. Allen has since initiated a thorough review of Mason’s previous cases to assess the potential impact of his biased viewpoints on ongoing legal matters.
Impact on Ongoing Cases
Data indicates that a total of 111 cases were assigned to Mason, of which 28% involved a minority defendant. This statistic raises concerns about the fairness and impartiality of Mason’s handling of these cases, especially given the nature of his social media messages. The implications of Mason’s biases could have significant ramifications for the individuals involved and for the judicial process as a whole.
Conclusion
The termination of Berkley Mason serves as a reminder of the vital importance of ethical conduct in the legal profession, particularly among those who hold positions of authority within the criminal justice system. As the Knox County District Attorney’s Office conducts its review into Mason’s past cases, the community remains alert to the overarching need for justice that is equitable and devoid of bias.
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Additional Resources
- News Nation Now
- WBIR
- ABA Journal
- Knox News
- Knox News
- Wikipedia: Prosecutor
- Google Search: Ethical Standards in Legal Profession
- Google Scholar: Ethical Conduct in Law
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Prosecutor
- Google News: Knox County District Attorney
