• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Los Angeles County prosecutors file lawsuit against new boss saying DA reforms ‘violate the law’

Los Angeles County prosecutors

(Los Angeles County)

December 30, 2020
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

LOS ANGELES — If ever there were a fox in the henhouse it’s new Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón. He is far more concerned with defendants’ happiness than victims’ justice and his subordinates are calling him out.

Prosecutors in Los Angeles County are asking a judge for an order that would keep them from enforcing new directives from Gascón that would require them to be lenient in their sentencing recommendations for specified types of offenders.

George Gascon
George Gascon (YouTube)

The Association of Deputy District Attorney’s for Los Angeles County (ADDA) claimed in a lawsuit filed that the directives would mean violating state laws that require enhanced sentences in certain cases, Fox News reported.

“As the District Attorney, Respondent Gascón has no authority to legislate and no right to unilaterally abrogate the law—no matter his personal opinion as to the law’s merits,” the complaint states.

Gascón’s directives, the complaint states, prohibit deputies from pursuing sentencing enhancements in future cases under the state’s Three Strikes Law and, for current pending cases, require them to withdraw allegations to support tougher sentences for cases including bail violations, gang-related cases, and situations where special circumstances could result in a sentence of life without parole.

Under the Three Strikes Law, the deputies claim, prosecutors are required to seek enhanced sentences when applicable under the law. They say there is no room for discretion.

Furthermore, regarding other enhancements, the complaint claims that Gascón’s blanket policies violate the DA’s obligation to prosecute violations of the law.

“These provisions are plainly illegal,” the complaint says. “DDAs cannot be commanded to violate the very sentencing enhancements that California law mandates.”

RELATED:

  • Newly minted LA County DA already looking for ways to release criminals from jail
  • New prosecutor to drop special circumstance charges in accused cop killer’s case
  • Controversial Los Angeles County DA complains murder victim’s family ‘can’t keep their mouths shut’

In a chilling allegation, the lawsuit alleges that Gascón has agents monitoring prosecutors to make sure they are following his directives.

The complaint contains quotes from several judges who have criticized Gascón’s directives and warned prosecutors about enforcing them, according to Fox.

“I understand it came from the top. I understand why you’re making the motion, but the Court will deny the motion as to each and every one of the other allegations,” Judge Laura F. Priver is quoted as saying to one prosecutor. “You have an ethical duty to do your job and proceed with prosecution. You should not be allowed to abandon the prosecution at this juncture.”

The lawsuit calls for court orders to rescind the directives and to end their enforcement.

“While an elected District Attorney has wide discretion in determining what charges to pursue in an individual case, that discretion does not authorize him or her to violate the law or to direct attorneys representing the district attorney’s office to violate the law,” ADDA president Michele Hanisee said in a statement.

Gascón is so controversial, that even his peer to the south, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer argued that he’s gone “off the reservation” with his policies, Law Officer reported.

Fox News reached out to Gascón’s office for comment, but they did not immediately respond.

 


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: Courageous LeadershipGeorge GasconLos Angeles County District Attorney's OfficeMichele HaniseeTodd Spitzer
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Shawn Randolph

Los Angeles prosecutor wins $1.5M judgment against DA George Gascon for retaliation

March 7, 2023
Kevin Michael Konther

Man convicted of rapes from the ’90s after blaming identical twin brother of committing the crimes

February 26, 2023
Venice

California hit-and-run driver who plowed into mom, baby in stolen car is murdered after lenient sentence kept him out of custody

January 20, 2023
Janine Paredes

Widow of slain California police sergeant files $25M claim against District Attorney George Gascón

December 1, 2022
Bahram Hojreh

Prominent California water polo coach convicted on multiple counts of sexual assault

November 17, 2022
Washington officer killed

Politicians are lying to you!

August 15, 2022
Load More

Latest Articles

Ali Muhammed Quraishi

Oregon dance manager charged with rape, sodomy of four victims

March 31, 2023
Tim Unwin

Ohio police officer among two people killed in crash

March 31, 2023
Joshua Tylerbest

Former ‘Bachelorette’ contestant charged with 15 felony counts of possessing and interacting with child sexual abuse material

March 31, 2023
Daniel Vernier

Chronic offender evades justice for assault on corrections officer

March 31, 2023
Joanne Segovia

Police union executive director charged with importing opioids

March 31, 2023
Barricaded suspect

The Barricaded Suspect

March 30, 2023
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2021 LawOfficer.com