Former Kern County D.A. Ed Jagels Arrested for DUI | Attorney Chris Hagan on Accountability

When the man who spent decades putting people away for DUI gets arrested for DUI himself, people are going to have questions. Former Kern County District Attorney Ed Jagels was arrested on suspicion of DUI on Stockdale Highway, raising immediate questions about accountability and whether the current D.A.’s office can handle the case without a conflict of interest. Attorney Chris Hagan of Chain | Cohn | Clark weighs in on what the arrest means for public trust in the justice system, and why the professional ties between Jagels and current D.A. Cynthia Zimmer may require outside oversight. “The standard of accountability that he expected from people he prosecuted should apply to him as well,” Hagan said. “If he was under the influence while driving, then he should be held accountable just like anyone else.” The arrest comes during the “100 Deadliest Days,” the stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day when impaired driving crashes spike across the country. In Kern County, where DUI numbers are already among the worst in California, the case carries added weight.