Los Angeles District Attorney News
Keeping you up to date on the Los Angeles DA’s Office and related news.
A New Volunteer Board Is Looking at How L.A. County Can Better Serve Crime Victims
As District Attorney George Gascón fields criticism from victims’ rights advocates, a diverse advisory board his office established is taking on a big task
Liz Ohanesian, LA Mag. May 6, 2021
Op-Ed: DA George Gascón, Survivors Of Violent Crime, And The Meaning Of Justice
Witness LA, Trino Jimenez. Apr. 27, 2021.
DA George Gascón pushes for bill to eliminate juvenile ‘strikes’ in adult sentencing
Daily News, Steven Rosenberg. Apr. 9, 2021.
California bill would remove youth from career criminal law
AP News, Don Thompson. Apr. 9, 2021.
L.A. County DA George Gascón faces blowback in first months of launching ambitious slate toward criminal justice reform
KTLA, Associated Press. Mar. 24, 2021.
LA County OKs DA Gascon’s request for a special prosecutor on police misconduct
With the board's go-ahead, District Attorney George Gascon’s can now appoint former federal prosecutor Lawrence Middleton to a four-year term at a cost of no more than $1.5 million each year.
Daily News, Staff and News Service Reports. Mar. 23, 2021
This South LA Man Committed A Small-Time Street Robbery. 36 Years Later, He's Still In Prison
L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón has launched an ambitious series of reforms he says are designed to combat mass incarceration and systemic racism in the criminal justice system.
For one thing, he wants his staff to review past sentences and try to undo those they determine were overly long, a process that could lead to the release of thousands of incarcerated people.
Reginald Wheeler hopes his will be one of those cases.
The LAist, Robert Garrova. Mar. 15, 2021
Gascón team eager to take second look at questionable convictions
The Daily News, Matt Krupnick. Mar. 14, 2021
LA's top prosecutor adopted major reforms. Law enforcement is fighting to block every policy
The new DA, George Gascón, wants to undo ‘the machine of mass incarceration’. The backlash started within days of his inauguration
The Guardian, Sam Levin. Mar. 10, 2021.
California district attorneys must pay back misspent environmental funds
The Sacramento Bee, Luz Rivas and Henry Stern. Mar. 5, 2021.
Fight Over George Gascón's LA Criminal Justice Reforms Speaks to Larger National Debate
KQED, Marisa Lagos. Mar. 2, 2021.
Beat the backlash and fix the justice system
Daily News, Tom Parker. Mar. 1, 2021.
Recall effort launched against LA County DA George Gascón, with support from Sheriff Villanueva
ABC7, Leanne Sutter. Mar. 1, 2021.
Three Strikes Project Helps California Inmates Facing Disproportionate Sentences
LOS ANGELES — It’s a long road to restoration for his ’85 Cutlass Supreme, but Charlie Ramirez sees the potential in the beat-up, old car.
After all, he also got a second chance at life.
Spectrum News 1, Kate Cagle. Mar. 1, 2021.
Most 14- and 15-year-olds cannot be tried as adults, California high court rules
A law that barred most offenders under 16 years old from being tried for crimes as adults does not violate the California Constitution, the state’s highest court decided Thursday.
Los Angeles Times, Maura Dolan. Feb. 25, 2021.
No more parole recommendations, Foxx says, after heat for not opposing cop-killers’ bids for release
The Cook County state’s attorney’s decision comes a day after ex-Chicago police superintendent blasted her.
Chicago Sun Times, Frank Main. Feb. 24, 2021
Suspect’s plea deal in child-murder case marks latest battle over L.A. County D.A.’s policies
Los Angeles Times, James Queally. Feb. 22, 2021.
Op-Ed: Gascon’s Evidence-Based Policies Will Help Reduce Wrongful Convictions & Move LA Forward
WitnessLA, Paula M. Mitchell and Justin Brooks. Feb. 22, 2021.
Commentary: Prosecutors feud over criminal sentencing laws
Cal Matters, Dan Walters. Feb. 21, 2021.
LA DA Demands Police Name-Names in Misconduct Files
George Gascón has asked every police agency in LA County to turn-over information on officers' dishonesty, excessive force, and law breaking
NBC Los Angeles, Eric Leonard and Andrew Blankstein. Feb. 19, 2021
LOS ANGELES D.A. GEORGE GASCÓN LEAVES CALIFORNIA’S POWERFUL D.A. ASSOCIATION
Gascón is battling a lawsuit, filed by his own line prosecutors and backed by the state DA association, against his criminal justice reforms.
The Appeal, Jerry Iannelli. Feb. 16, 2021.
Deputy DA files lawsuit against LA DA George Gascón
Fox LA, Christina Gonzalez. Feb. 11, 2021.
Editorial: Archaic ‘tough-on-crime’ holdouts are refusing to let George Gascón do his job
Los Angeles Times, THE TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD. Feb. 8, 2021
Several of D.A. George Gascón’s reforms blocked by L.A. County judge
Los Angeles Times, JAMES QUEALLY. Feb. 8, 2021
‘It’s a showdown’: California district attorneys battle over criminal justice reforms
Los Angeles Times, ANITA CHABRIA, JAMES QUEALLY. Feb. 8, 2021
Judge mulls DA union request to stop George Gascón from enforcing directives
Fox LA, Bill Hetherman City News Service. Feb. 2, 2021.
Prosecutor's Union Sues New DA George Gascón Over Justice Reform Efforts
The union representing L.A. County prosecutors is suing to stop justice reform efforts proposed by new District Attorney George Gascón.
The LAist. Feb. 1, 2021.
Editorial: L.A. County voters elected George Gascón to change the criminal justice system. Let him do it
Los Angeles Times, THE TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD. Jan. 28, 2021
Op-Ed: Stop the attempt to derail D.A. George Gascón’s criminal justice reforms
Los Angeles Times, ERWIN CHEMERINSKY AND MIRIAM ARONI KRINSKY. Jan. 28, 2021.
THE PROSECUTORS’ UNION THAT’S SUING GEORGE GASCÓN HAS A HISTORY OF ZEALOUS OPPOSITION TO REFORM
A look at the organization’s past actions suggests that this lawsuit is part of a longstanding pattern of ideologically motivated advocacy and commitment to tough-on-crime policies, rather than a show of blind allegiance to the law.
The Appeal, Piper French. Jan. 27, 2021
California prosecutors revolt against Los Angeles DA’s social justice changes
The widening battle over George Gascón's policies offers a high-profile microcosm for larger tensions roiling law enforcement around the country.
Politico, JEREMY B. WHITE. Jan. 25, 2021
This Is an Election Story That Mentions Neither Biden Nor Trump
Here are the (other) races and issues our national correspondents are watching.
The New York Times. Nov. 2, 2020
THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE LOS ANGELES DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
The DA’s office has been home to bribery, corruption, and more since it was formed 170 years ago. What could a progressive prosecutor do to change that?
The Appeal, Lexis-Olivier Ray, Lex Roman. Nov. 01, 2020
Opinion: The long, surprising history of L.A. County district attorneys
LA Times, Robert Greene. Oct. 28, 2020.
Jackie Lacey is a longtime champion for mentally ill defendants. But do her reforms go far enough?
Los Angeles Times, James Queally. Oct. 27, 2020
Newsom, California district attorneys seek tighter standards for application of death penalty
San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko. Oct. 26, 2020
An Ex-Cop Is Running as a Reformer to Unseat LA’s First Black District Attorney
Mother Jones, Samantha Michaels. Oct. 26, 2020.
LA Sees Increases in Anti-Asian and Anti-Transgender Crimes
LAIST. Oct. 23, 2020.
Lawmaker, CA DAs Announce State Measure to Cure Prosecutors’ Conflict of Interest Investigating Police Misconduct
Davis Vanguard, Vanguard Court Watch Interns. Oct. 23, 2020
What to Know About the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Race
NBC Southern California, Jason Kandel. Oct. 22, 2020.
California Bill Seeks DA Independence From Police Union Money
Courtroom News Service, Martin Macias Jr. Oct. 22, 2020
Two Black men sentenced to life as teens to be freed. But should L.A. County D.A. have reviewed convictions earlier?
LA Times, James Queally. Oct. 22, 2020
Fake Ballot Drop Boxes Have Popped Up In Southern California. They're Not Legal.
LAIST, Libby Denkmann. Oct. 12, 2020.
Race for Los Angeles district attorney grows increasingly bitter
KTLA 5, Associated Press. Oct. 11, 2020
Two Prosecutors Running for LA District Attorney Clash over Criminal Justice Reform
The Davis Vanguard, Vanguard Court Watch Interns. Oct. 9, 2020
As election winds down, Los Angeles D.A. candidates skirmish in virtual debate
LA Times, Matthew Ormseth. Oct. 8, 2020.
Former LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and George Gascon are Straight Up Hypocrites
Citywatchla.com, Caroline Aguirre. Oct. 8, 2020
LA district attorney race contenders on reforming law enforcement
Press Play, Madeleine Brand. Oct. 8, 2020
Key Takeaways In LA DA Debate: Challenger George Gascón And Incumbent Jackie Lacey Make Their Cases
LAist, Libby Denkimann. Oct. 8, 2020
THE D.A. PRIMARY IN LOS ANGELES NARROWLY WENT TO A RUNOFF. NOW THAT THE ELECTION IS HERE, THE STAKES ARE EVEN HIGHER
The Appeal, Eliyahu Kamisher. Oct. 7, 2020
Los Angeles DA candidates Lacey, Gascon clash on police racism, death penalty at debate
Hot topics at the event included systemic racism in law enforcement, mental health and who donated money to their campaigns.
Long Beach Press Telegram, Larry Altman. Oct. 4, 2020
Los Angeles County District Attorney 2020 candidate’s debate
Los Angeles Blade, Staff Reports. Oct. 2, 2020
It’s Not Just Soros; 5 High-Powered Women Trying To Reshape Nation’s Largest Criminal Justice System
Daily Wire, Jeffrey Cawood. Oct. 2, 2020
3 more Los Angeles police officers charged with falsifying gang information
CNN, Mallika Kallingal and Cheri Mossburg. Oct. 2, 2020
Here are the mega-donors and police unions pouring millions into the L.A. County district attorney race
LA Times, Maloy Moore, Ryan Menezes and James Queally. Oct. 1, 2020
LA County DA race: George Gascón pledges to reopen 4 deadly police shooting investigations
ABC7, Anabel Munoz. Sep. 19, 2020
DA Jackie Lacey Has Recused Herself from the Daniel Hernandez Shooting Case
Los Angeles Magazine, Eliyahu Kamisher. Sep. 23, 2020
With Lacey, Gascon billing themselves as reformers, L.A.’s DA election sets up fascinating showdown
Daily News, Larry Altman. Sep. 22, 2020
District Attorney Candidate Debate - A Voter Game Plan Event
KPCC
Former San Francisco Dist. Atty. George Gascón’s history as a police officer has come under increased scrutiny as he seeks to unseat Jackie Lacey as Los Angeles County’s top prosecutor.
(Michael Macor / San Francisco Chronicle)
In D.A.’s race framed by reform, George Gascón’s police career is under a microscope
Los Angeles Times, James Queally. Sep. 19, 2020
Protests over police brutality and criminal justice reform intensify race for L.A. district attorney
Los Angeles Times, James Queally. Jul. 1, 2020.
The “Single Most Important DA Race in the Country” Is Headed to a Runoff
Mother Jones, Samantha Michaels. Mar. 24, 2020.