For example, Tom is the "first" district attorney to testify in support of a commutation.  He recently testified in support of Thomas Koonce being granted a commutation of his conviction from first degree to second degree murder. Koonce was a very young black man convicted of first degree murder in the 1980s who Tom strongly felt should not serve his entire life in prison due to questions about whether it was a pre-meditated murder and the defendant’s stellar record as a model inmate and mentor to others while incarcerated,  Although the case pre-dates Tom’s time as DA, Tom took the time to review the facts and circumstances of the case and was troubled that justice was not done in Mr. Koonce’s case.  Several Governor’s Councilors holding the hearing this past January called Tom’s testimony in support of the commutations a “courageous act” that they had “never seen a DA make,” called him “a man of the highest integrity” and said Tom is “running the fairest DA’s office in the state.”  Tom believes in fair and equal justice for all.  That is why he directs all the prosecutors in his office to make charging decisions and sentence recommendations based solely on the facts and circumstances of the case, and the defendant’s prior record