LA has a great chance to elect a progressive District Attorney: George Gascón

Gascón-Lacey to face runoff election

Attorney Nicholas Loncar (front) with Los Angeles District Attorney Candidates Rachel Rossi and Loyola Project for the Innocent Attorneys Arianna Price and Megan Baca at a 2019 debate.

In California's criminal courtrooms, the Deputy District Attorneys are said to represent the People of the State of California.  For defense attorneys who actually represent real people, it can be difficult to stomach hearing overzealous prosecutors, who take joy in destroying defendants' lives, dare to say they represent "the People."  Of course a large number of prosecutors are good people, who work hard to vindicate victims' rights, while also understanding that criminal defendants are real people.  Unfortunately, in my eight years defending the accused in Los Angeles County, I have found far too many prosecutors who feel it is their job to secure the most severe punishments that they can, and to oppose even the most reasonable of a defendant's requests.  No matter how good of an argument a defendant might have for reduced bail, mitigated punishment, lesser charges, or even a minor accommodation that can help a person remain employed or not be deported, these battles are often far too difficult.  The LA County District Attorney's office lacks empathy, common sense, and is in need of reform.

In 2017, Philadelphia made headlines by electing Larry Krasner.  Krasner, a former public defender, private defense attorney, and civil rights lawyer, ran on a campaign of criminal justice reform, reduced incarceration rates, and devoting the city's crime-fighting resources to more serious crimes.  The new District Attorney got to work quickly, firing 31 of his staff attorneys, and directing law enforcement not to make marijuana arrests, and not to seek bail in misdemeanor and nonviolent felony cases.  He further took strong stands against excessive punishments, the death penalty, while working to ensure the integrity of convictions, both past and present.  In 2018, Geneviéve Jones-Wright, a San Diego Public Defender, ran for District Attorney of San Diego County.  Despite an enthusiastic campaign from Jones-Wright, San Diego re-elected Summer Stephan.  While Krasner is probably the nation's most well-known progressive prosecutor, he is not alone.  Suffolk County District Attorney Rachel Rollins has pledged and implemented a progressive agenda in Boston, and Nueces County (Texas) District Attorney Mark Gonzalez is a former defense attorney with reputed biker gang ties, and a "not guilty" tattoo.  Having a "not guilty" tattoo myself, I certainly understand the confusion this might create.  San Francisco's District Attorney, Chesa Boudin made the transition from public defender to the city's chief prosecutor, and has already made major strides in bail reform and reducing incarceration.

Across the country, the people are speaking; they want prosecutors who understand that defendants in criminal cases are people, too.  The United States has the world's highest rate of incarceration.  That's right, right here in the land of the free, we lock up both the largest number of people, and the largest percentage of people in the entire world.  Something is seriously wrong with our criminal justice system.  And it is time for Los Angeles County to step into the future. 

In March 2020, incumbent Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey was dealt a major blow to her re-election efforts.  A three-way race in the Democratic primary saw progressive challengers George Gascón and Rachel Rossi combined for more votes than Lacey.  With no candidate earning a majority of votes, election rules dictate that the candidates who finished first and second now face off on the November ballot.  Rachel Rossi ran a formidable campaign, but ultimately finished third.  A former public defender, Rossi ran on a campaign of bail reform, and addressing issues such as jail overcrowding, racial disparities in the administration of criminal justice, and more.  Gascón, formerly District Attorney of San Diego, is also a well-known progressive/reformer prosecutor.  Gascón and Rossi ran on strikingly similar platforms, and Rossi voters will still be able to vote for a progressive in November.  Lacey saw significant support from law enforcement, who are also working hard to defeat Gascón.

Los Angeles needs a progressive District Attorney.  The cash bail system has long served to deny criminal defendants a fair trial, as well as deny liberty to Angelenos who had not been proven guilty of any offense.  During Lacey's tenure, the death penalty has been sought only against defendants of color, not one of the hundreds of police officers who shot and killed a person in Los Angeles during Lacey's tenure has been prosecuted.  It is no wonder Lacey sees such strong support from the police she refuses to hold accountable and the bail bondsmen she makes rich.  Los Angeles leads the nation in law enforcement shooting deaths.  Los Angeles leads the nation in law enforcement shooting deaths!  We can no longer afford to have Jackie Lacey in charge of these charging decisions.

Gascón has an interesting biography.  An LA native and former LAPD officer, Gascón would go on to serve as Chief of Police in Mesa, Arizona, and San Francisco.  After earning his law degree, District Attorney of San Francisco.  With a lifetime commitment to public safety, Gascón has a unique perspective and a wealth of experience to help Los Angeles address its failing criminal justice and incarceration system.  Gascón has received endorsements from the California Democratic Party, the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, the LA Times, LA Daily News, La Opinión, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Pasadena Star News, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Krasner, Boudin, musician John Legend, former LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, and many more people and organizations who share his vision for fairness and reform.

From his website, GeorgeGascon.com:

"Today, Gascón, and his work, are defined by the same notions of fairness, public safety, service, and critical thought that have been consistent throughout his life. In addition to his criminal justice work at the local, state, and national level, Gascón has worked on public safety initiatives in Latin America and the Middle East. He is a board member of the Council of State Government’s Justice Center, a graduate of the FBI’s National Executive Institute, and a member of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government’s Executive Session on Policing and Public Safety.

District Attorney Gascón holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from California State University, Long Beach, and a Juris Doctor Degree from Western State University, College of Law.  
As San Francisco’s Chief of Police, he significantly increased the murder clearance rate and homicides in San Francisco fell by half, from 98 cases in 2008 to 45 the next year. Violent crime continued to drop to near-record lows over the next nine years that he spent as San Francisco’s District Attorney."

In November, make sure to get out and vote, and while many will be primarily focused on the Presidential race, know that you can help to bring dignity and fairness to the criminal courts in America's second largest city.

VOTE FOR GEORGE GASCON!  Although the election is still months away, do not forget to vote, share, and educate!

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