The alleged instructions could have tainted as many as three dozen decisions, leaving at least one person charged at Rikers.
Queens District Attorney
Posted inCriminal Justice, Queens District Attorney, Racism
Four Queens Prosecutors Who Discriminated Against Minority Jurors Are Still On the Job
A group of law professors has filed new complaints to the state’s grievance committee based on findings by appeals judges that the prosecutors broke the law.
Posted inAlbany
Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez Eyeing Run for State Attorney General, Sources Say
Additional reporting by Reuven Blau and Yoav Gonen Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez is weighing a statewide campaign for attorney general if Letitia James leaves the seat to run for governor, eight people familiar with the matter told THE CITY. In recent weeks, they say, Gonzalez has been making calls to his top supporters and […]
Posted inCourts
A Young Prisoner’s Dilemma: Freedom or a Risky Shot at Clearing His Name
Prakash Churaman, behind bars since age 15 on a felony murder conviction, recently got a new trial and an offer from Queens prosecutors: plead guilty to a lesser charge and walk away at age 21 next summer. But he maintains his innocence, and is willing to risk getting sent away for 25 years to life. […]
Posted inJails
Second Rikers Island Inmate Dies of COVID-19 After Failed Bid to Spring Him
Need to know more about coronavirus in New York? Sign up for THE CITY’s daily morning newsletter. A city correction officer called public defender Alejandra Lopez Friday to urge her to do everything possible to get her client with COVID-19 out of a jail hospital unit. Walter Ance, 63, died about 24 hours later in […]
Posted inQueens
Tiffany Cabán and Melinda Katz Counting Votes — and Cash
With the recount process set to begin Tuesday in the tense Tiffany Cabán-Melinda Katz Democratic primary battle for Queens district attorney, both campaigns are tallying more than just votes. Insurgent candidate Cabán, with about $35,000 left to spend, is invoking the electoral stalemate in fundraising pitches. Recent emails ask supporters for contributions to ensure a […]
Posted inPeople
Katz-Cabán Queens DA Primary Race Heads to Recount
The Tiffany Cabán-Melinda Katz Democratic primary battle for Queens district attorney is headed for a recount — and a potential court fight. After a daylong manual recount of thousands of paper ballots, Democratic Party favorite Katz pulled ahead of insurgent candidate Cabán by 20 votes Wednesday, according to the city Board of Elections. That marked […]
Posted inPeople
Developers Donate Big to Queens DA Candidate Who Vows Construction Crackdown
When Queens Borough President Melinda Katz announced her candidacy for district attorney in December, she sought to stand out as an advocate for workers injured or ripped off on the job – especially on construction sites. “Developers and construction companies will be held accountable if they fail to follow the law and keep their workers […]