Susan Hawk, despite the ongoing controversy about her previously undisclosed October 2013 stint in drug rehab and swirling rumors about distrust and paranoia in her Dallas County District Attorney's Office, fulfilled her commitment to speak at SMU's Louise B. Raggio Endowed Lecture Series.
Rather than give a speech, Hawk had a conversation with SMU law school Dean Jennifer Collins. She talked about her rise to the district attorney's chair and her proudest moment as a prosecutor and highlighted the program she created as a judge to help defendants with mental illness. The elephant in the room was largely ignored.
Asked about her tough week, Hawk said she was excited to be at SMU and talk about the positive things her office was doing and that "when you stand on the truth, you never fall down."
Collins then pivoted to the sort of questions one might have expected had the event happened a few weeks ago. Hawk slipped out quickly after the event before taking any media questions.
Hawk's rehab trip came barely a month into her campaign to unseat incumbent Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins. She told the Morning News at the time that she was headed to the East Coast for back surgery.
