Remember Kenneth Starr, the former independent prosecutor whose overzealous pursuit of President Bill Clinton in the Monicagate scandal led to impeachment proceedings? Ever wonder what happened to Ken? Contrary to rumor, he is not currently working in the corner square on Hollywood Squares. Nor is he spending his time with Barbie and Stacie in their Malibu Playhouse, although you are getting warm. Mr. Starr is currently in Malibu, although strictly on business. He is a Dean and Professor of Law at Pepperdine University. Interestingly enough, the brief bio of Starr posted on the law school’s website (here) makes no mention of Monicagate or the impeachment of President Clinton. Perhaps Starr has come to feel embarrassed by his role in that whole messy business, particularly in light of more recent and egregious high crimes and misdemeanors committed by the resident of the Oval Office. In any regard, the former independent prosecutor has moved on and appears to be doing just fine and dandy.

What brings Kenneth Starr to mind is a news report from Washington state that details yet another example of prosecutorial zealotry. Read on, Macduff…

Prosecutors Try To Seize Gold Dental Work Of Defendants

TACOMA, Wash., April 7 — Talk about taking a bite out of crime.

Government lawyers tried to confiscate the gold tooth caps known as “grills” from the mouths of two men facing drug charges, saying the dental work qualified as seizable assets. They had them in a vehicle headed to a dental clinic by the time defense lawyers persuaded a judge to halt the procedure.

“I’ve been doing this for over 30 years, and I have never heard of anything like this,” said Richard J. Troberman, a past president of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. “It sounds like Nazi Germany, when they were removing the gold teeth from the bodies, but at least then they waited until they were dead.”

Prosecutors had a warrant to seize the gold dental work, according to documents and lawyers involved in the case. But they eventually abandoned the effort, saying they mistakenly thought the grills were removable. more…

Isn’t it nice to know how well our tax dollars are being spent and how intelligent and reasonable certain of our government prosecutors are? For their dubious actions in this case, I hereby award them the Kenneth Starr Award for Overzealous Prosecution. Congratulations!