LA County DA Gascon's prosecutors ask judge to block reforms that would force them to 'violate the law'
Prosecutors in Los Angeles County filed a lawsuit against DA, claiming new lenient sentencing policies violate state law
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Prosecutors in Los Angeles County are asking a judge for an order that would keep them from enforcing new directives from District Attorney George Gascón that would require them to be lenient in their sentencing recommendations for specified types of offenders.
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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"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: It is not optional and they cannot exercise discretion. For the other enhancements, the complaint claims that the blanket policies violate Gascón's own obligation to prosecute violations of the law.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In this photo provided by the County of Los Angeles, incoming Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon speaks after he was sworn in during a mostly-virtual ceremony in downtown Los Angeles, Dec. 7, 2020. (Bryan Chan/County of Los Angeles via AP)
"These provisions are plainly illegal," the complaint says. "DDAs cannot be commanded to violate the very sentencing enhancements that California law mandates."
Fox News reached out to Gascón's office for comment, but they did not immediately respond.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The lawsuit alleges that Gascón's office has agents monitoring prosecutors to make sure they are following the directives and that the office has falsely claimed that prosecutors are sworn to uphold them.
The complaint quotes several judges who have criticized the directives and warned prosecutors about enforcing them.
"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."
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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.