The Pennsylvania Supreme Court dismissed the impeachment case against controversial Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, ruling the effort died with the legislative session that launched it.
In the majority opinion, Chief Justice Deborah Todd wrote that because the legislature that impeached Krasner adjourned on Nov. 30, 2022 — before the state Senate held a trial — the opportunity to try Krasner on those impeachment charges had passed.
Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia), who introduced the articles of impeachment in the House, expressed disappointment at the high court’s decision.
“Like far too many of the criminals his office prosecutes, Larry Krasner today avoided his trial on the basis of a technicality,” said White. “Krasner has never denied the allegations against him. Instead, his defense has been simply the legislature can’t do anything about it. This ruling does not mean that is true, and today all Philadelphians – and Mr. Krasner – were denied a day in court to make their case. He cannot claim his innocence, as that trial has not yet happened.”
Republicans have long been outraged by the progressive policies practiced by Krasner, declining to prosecute some crimes and making it easier for criminal suspects to get back on the streets.
“Mr. Krasner has proven himself derelict in his duties as district attorney in Philadelphia, inappropriately using prosecutorial discretion to act against the public interest by consistently dropping charges against repeat offenders, refusing to prosecute certain crimes outright, while also withdrawing and dismissing charges under the Uniform Firearms Act at an abnormally high rate,” White said when making her case against the Philadelphia Democrat during the impeachment hearings.
Though many residents and law enforcement officers complained Krasner’s policies have made the city less safe, Philadelphia voters reelected him. And Krasner has signaled that he plans to seek a third term.
Lead Impeachment Manager Rep. Craig Williams (R-Chester/Delaware) and fellow Impeachment Manager Rep. Tim Bonner (R-Mercer/Butler) also commented.
“Today the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the House of Representatives is without constitutional authority to proceed with the impeachment articles from a previous session,” said Williams. “It is important to note the court did not answer if the allegations of misbehavior in office met the constitutional standard for impeachment and conviction for the same. Those questions must be resolved by the Supreme Court. The rule of law and the public’s confidence in the criminal justice system requires it.”
The impeachment articles were primarily based on allegations of false statements and omissions to state and federal courts about certain cases. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court did not address the merits of the allegations against Krasner, instead dismissing the case on the procedural basis that impeachment proceedings initiated by the House cannot carry over into a new legislative session without reauthorization, they said.
Erica Clayton Wright, spokeswomen for Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) said, “Despite our efforts to demonstrate that impeachment has always been understood to survive the end of the legislative term, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the ‘continuing body’ language of those precedents are no longer valid.”
“With that understanding, the rules of impeachment are clearly outlined in the Pennsylvania Constitution in Article 6, Section 5, ‘all impeachments shall be tried by the Senate.’ As such, in the future, the Senate will take up the Articles of Impeachment passed in the same legislative session by the House of Representatives and sit in judgment and review the evidence presented by the House to support the impeachment as outlined in the Pennsylvania constitution.”
A statement from Krasner’s office declared the decision “a victory for democracy and for the citizens of Philadelphia.”
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