Louisiana Legislature Pushes Back Against New Orleans DA"s Reforms

New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams, elected four years ago, has been addressing the city's history of prosecutorial and police misconduct. His office has utilized post-conviction relief to void convictions and reduce sentences in several hundred cases, a process that has raised concerns among conservative lawmakers about public safety and transparency. A new law passed by the Republican-dominated Legislature now requires Williams to seek approval from the Attorney General for post-conviction relief, limiting his authority. Williams has focused on reviewing non-unanimous jury convictions, which were deemed unconstitutional by a 2020 Supreme Court ruling. Although this ruling does not apply retroactively, Williams has allowed those convicted under non-unanimous juries to seek post-conviction relief. His actions are part of a broader movement among progressive prosecutors aiming to reduce incarceration rates and rectify past injustices in the legal system. The pushback against Williams has been fueled by a social media campaign led by Laura Rodrigue, a former prosecutor and daughter of the previous district attorney. Attorney General Liz Murrill has expressed concerns about the changes in convictions, emphasizing that they should not be altered based solely on differing opinions between the district attorney and the courts or Legislature. Despite the ongoing tensions regarding post-conviction relief, both Williams and the Attorney General's office have indicated a willingness to collaborate on other issues, such as juvenile crime. This situation highlights the ideological divide between progressive and conservative approaches to criminal justice reform in Louisiana.