Louisiana legislators grill New Orleans DA for releasing people convicted of violent crimes

Louisiana state legislators recently confronted New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams regarding his reform policies that have resulted in the voiding of convictions or the reduction of sentences for hundreds of individuals in recent years. During an intense Senate hearing at the state capitol on Thursday, Williams faced tough questions about the impact of these policies, particularly from conservative lawmakers, Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill, and former prosecutors who criticized his approach to post-conviction relief.

Critics, including Murrill, argue that Williams has not fulfilled his duty to uphold convictions in cases involving violent crimes. They highlighted several instances where convicted murderers and rapists have been released from prison through the use of post-conviction relief, a legal process that permits the review of new evidence or information after all appeals have been exhausted. Murrill expressed concern over the “disproportionately higher number” of relief cases under Williams’ tenure, noting that his office has granted relief in around 40 cases since January, compared to just one case each in neighboring parishes of Jefferson and St. Tammany.

Williams, a Democrat who assumed office in 2020 with a commitment to progressive reforms, defended his record and emphasized his goal of restoring public trust in the legal system. He argued that his office is using post-conviction relief to address cases where constitutional rights may have been violated or where unjust procedures led to convictions. He pointed to New Orleans’ troubled history of police misconduct and punitive sentencing practices as reasons for the increased number of cases reviewed by his office.

Attorney General Murrill countered that district attorneys have an obligation to uphold convictions and suggested that Williams’ approach represents an overreach of authority.

“The job is to enforce the law, not make the law,”

Murrill stated, emphasizing that disagreements over policy do not justify granting relief. Under a new law enacted in August, Williams is now required to notify the attorney general of post-conviction relief cases and permit her to intervene.

During the hearing, Murrill and conservative lawmakers suggested that Williams’ actions might necessitate further legislative responses. This scrutiny of Williams’ practices aligns with a broader national trend of conservative efforts to curtail the autonomy of progressive prosecutors, as noted by Rebecca Goldstein, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

Supporters of Williams, such as State Sen. Royce Duplessis, argued that the district attorney’s policies reflect the values of the New Orleans voters who elected him. Duplessis questioned the political motivations behind the hearing, suggesting that it was an attempt to undermine the democratic choice of New Orleans residents.

However, the hearing also included criticism from former prosecutors like Laura Rodrigue, who argued that Williams’ office has granted relief in cases without a solid legal basis. Republican lawmakers, such as State Sen. Valarie Hodges, accused Williams of exploiting “loopholes” to release convicted criminals, describing such actions as “evil” and “wicked.”

One notable case discussed involved a man convicted of murder who was released after Williams’ office acknowledged the man’s claim of ineffective counsel. When questioned about this by Republican State Sen. Jay Morris, Williams explained that there were other constitutional concerns in the case that, if left unaddressed, could have exposed his office to lawsuits. Williams defended his decision, stating that his office had opposed the release and planned a retrial, providing statements from the victim’s family to the judge to maintain the conviction.

Williams also challenged the portrayal of the post-conviction relief process as flawed or unjust, asserting that his office is committed to ensuring justice, even if it means reconsidering convictions. He cited a case where new evidence led to the admission that a man had been falsely accused of armed robbery and had served decades behind bars.

Some lawmakers accused Williams of lacking transparency in his decision-making process, alleging that his office withheld documents from the public by claiming they were protected as “work product.” In response, Williams promised to provide complete records of all post-conviction relief cases over the past year to lawmakers and the attorney general, insisting, “We have nothing to hide.”

The hearing underscored a contentious debate over criminal justice reform in Louisiana, with sharp divides between those advocating for a reassessment of past convictions to ensure fairness and those insisting on maintaining tough-on-crime policies to protect public safety.