Progressive Prosecution: A Conversation with Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner
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Join us for a lunchtime conversation with Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner for a timely and thought-provoking discussion on the state of criminal law, how local leaders are responding to ICE enforcement efforts, and the broader progressive prosecution movement.
Before entering public office, Mr. Krasner spent 30 years as a criminal defense attorney in Philadelphia. He began his career with the Federal Public Defender’s Office and went on to build a distinguished practice focused on criminal defense and civil rights litigation. He frequently represented protesters on a pro bono basis and became widely known for defending members of movements such as Black Lives Matter and Occupy Philadelphia.
In 2017, after former District Attorney Seth Williams announced he would not seek reelection (and later pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges), Mr. Krasner entered a crowded seven-way Democratic primary and emerged victorious. He went on to win the general election by a three-to-one margin over a former assistant district attorney and was reelected in 2021.
From the outset, Mr. Krasner campaigned on a progressive, reform-oriented platform. Since taking office, he has implemented significant criminal justice reforms within the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, including establishing an active Conviction Integrity Unit. He also directed assistant prosecutors to stop seeking cash bail for certain misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies, arguing that individuals should not remain detained simply because they cannot afford to pay bail.
Currently, Mr. Krasner is part of a coalition of progressive prosecutors known as the Project for the Fight Against Federal Overreach, which aims to hold federal law enforcement officers accountable for violations of state law.