Larry Krasner wins race for Philly DA
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News
by Chris Brennan & Aubrey Whelan - Staff Writers
Larry Krasner was elected Philadelphia district attorney on Tuesday, capping a once-improbable campaign to be the city’s top prosecutor and amid signals that he would bring significant, if not drastic, changes to the office.
A longtime defense lawyer, the Democrat won despite lacking political or prosecutorial experience and, at least early in the race, establishment support. But he rode the financial backing of one of his party’s most progressive billionaires, and benefited from a fractured field of opponents.
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Addressing supporters gathered for his victory party at the William Way LGBT Community Center, Krasner promised his election would herald “transformational change” in the city’s criminal justice system and a fairness “for a system that has systematically picked on black and brown people.” “This,” he told the crowd, “is what a movement looks like.”
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Despite three decades as a lawyer, the 56-year-old was assailed from the start of his campaign by critics as unsuitable for the job — as an attorney best known for taking on civil rights cases and suing the Philadelphia Police Department. It was for some of the same reasons that he drew support from activists demanding criminal justice reform from an office they deemed unfair, and he returned to those themes Tuesday night.
Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city/larry-krasner-wins-race-for-philly-da-20171107.html
He has been a BLM supporter and vows to attempt to adjust the pervasive culture in our city's criminal justice system - one that was spearheaded by an earlier, long-time D.A. Lynne Abraham (dubbed "America's Deadliest D.A."), who made sure she would send as many black and brown people to death row as she could.
As a sidenote - the reference to the "billionaire support" is George Soros by the way (who has been "blamed" by the GOP for everything under the sun...
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He had switched parties to GOP at that time to win the position.
Former Philly D.A. Ron Castille (R), who had worked under Arlen Specter, was D.A. here from 1986 - 1991 after Rendell left the D.A. job to run for Mayor (and won). Castille eventually ended up elected to the state SC under the GOP banner and became Chief Justice of said court until he reached mandatory retirement in 2014.
Castille recently had been scoping out a Drumpf job last year as a US Attorney for the area.
The bizarre thing here was that the local media seemed confused and frustrated and tried hard to tentatively push the GOP candidate Grossman for whatever fucking reason.... or better, because they have been complicit in the oppression of POC here and just didn't want to deal with someone who was going to try to bring about a change from within.
The Philly Inquirer broke ranks and endorsed the GOP candidate for D.A. 
Even as the results were coming in last night, the local news radio station reporters kept trying to suggest that because certain (WHITE) sections of the city (e.g., NE Philly, South Philly in Rizzo territory) were coming out strong for Grossman in the early returns, that somehow she had a chance.
All kinds of biases got exposed with this race here and it's good to see that we now know where folks are coming from.
and I know that all lawyers are taught how to argue "both sides" (but eventually choose to specialize in one side or the other, notably if they go into trial law)... And if anything, successful defense lawyers have to be highly aware of what prosecutors do in order to mount a successful defense.
In general, a D.A. is not the one actually building and arguing the run-of-the-mill cases, it's the assistant D.A.s doing all the work. But if a culture change can happen for building LEGITIMATE cases, then hopefully this could eventually help the city to SAVE SOME MONEY from paying out SETTLEMENTS for false and malicious arrests and prosecutions, and police run amok.
Things like "Stop and Frisk" have GOT to go.
