He was absolved by a military judge, but an ambitious prosecutor tried him in a civilian court.
There are cases in which overly ambitious prosecutors use the press in insignificant cases.
But that may be exactly what it is about to an ambitious prosecutor with his own career on the line.
They say instead that they are the victims of overly ambitious prosecutors who have been ordered to break the labor movement.
Tony Pope, an ambitious prosecutor, refused, insisting on a wrenching trial.
The courts are the only player in the criminal justice system suitably positioned to protect individuals against the overly ambitious or simply naive prosecutor.
"The downside to drawing the politically ambitious prosecutor," Elwood said.
Worse, in recent years lawmakers and ambitious prosecutors back in the States have been mounting ever more serious legal challenges.
"The one thing an ambitious federal prosecutor cannot risk is to do this halfway."
The justices seem a long way from the reality of what goes on in local criminal courts, with their ambitious prosecutors and often hapless defense lawyers.