Currently, prosecutors in both the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems have too much discretion in pressing charges, determining what sentences are sought, and negotiating plea deals. Trial by jury is a key tenant of the American criminal justice system, but heightened prosecutorial power significantly reduces the power and frequency of a trial by peers. Attempts at sentencing reform must address largely unchecked prosecutorial discretion.
“Where defense attorneys later took the issue back to the court to protest the bail hike, the amount was dropped by an average of $64,037 for a final bail amount that averaged just over $1 million — a far cry from the original bond. The process is unfair and illegal, says Wainwright, who has been practicing criminal law in New Orleans for 30 years.“
The Intercept
May 15, 2019
Read More“Rejecting Cannizzaro’s attempt to dismiss the case, U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo wrote that the district attorney’s subpoena practices, as alleged, amount to ‘systemic fraud’ and ‘shock the conscience.’ According to the judge, his request for immunity would ‘grant prosecutors a license to bypass the most basic checks on their authority.’ We agree.“
New Orleans Times Picayune
March 19, 2019
Read More“The use of bogus documents to alter the course of justice is clearly a bigger threat to the civilized order than many a crime that occupies the attention of Cannizzaro's enforcers. And this was no aberration, because they had been playing this trick for many years. Malice does not come much more forethought than this.“
The Advocate
March 13, 2019
Read More“‘To condone prolonged and unjustifiable delays in this case would both penalize defendant for the state’s fault and ‘simply encourage the government to gamble with the interests of criminal suspects assigned a low prosecutorial priority’,’ the judges said, quoting from another court ruling.“
The Advocate
September 14, 2018
Read More