Pennsylvania Supreme Court Curbs Krasner's Power On Philly Post-Conviction Cases
On June 19, 2026 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled 4-3 to curb Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner's power by reversing a judge's order that had granted a new trial.[1]
The decision reversed a Philadelphia order in the post-conviction case of Levar Brown after Krasner's office had supported vacating the convictions.[1] The court said Philadelphia judges must notify the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and allow it to intervene before granting relief when the DA concedes a conviction should be overturned.[1] The majority wrote Krasner's concession in Brown's case "was not reliable," citing withheld evidence, a false stipulation and other deficiencies.[1]
Larry Krasner took office as Philadelphia district attorney on January 2, 2018 and expanded the Conviction Integrity Unit that had existed in limited form since 2014. Since 2018 the unit has exonerated more than 35 people who together served over 675 years, and it has facilitated hundreds of juvenile resentencings and dozens of commutations. In 2020 Levar Brown filed a new Post Conviction Relief Act petition, and Krasner's office agreed the convictions should be vacated; a Philadelphia judge granted Brown a new trial in May 2023. Family members of the victims appealed and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard arguments in March 2025.
The court said Krasner's office has conceded post-conviction relief well over 100 times since 2018, mostly in murder cases.[1] The opinion noted more than 1,000 cases remain awaiting review by the Conviction Integrity Unit, a tally the court said argues for independent state oversight before convictions are overturned.[1]
The mainstream summary emphasizes the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision to limit Krasner's power, framing it primarily as a response to his concessions in the Levar Brown case. However, it does not address the court's broader concerns regarding Krasner's office, which has reportedly exhibited a pattern of unreliable concessions in over 100 post-conviction cases since 2018. Justice Kevin Dougherty's majority opinion highlights issues such as lack of investigation and misstatements of fact, suggesting that the court's ruling is part of a larger institutional pushback against progressive prosecutorial reforms that prioritize policy goals over case-specific legal merits. This context is crucial as it underscores the systemic challenges faced by Krasner's office beyond the specifics of the Brown case, which the mainstream summary downplays or omits entirely.
Additionally, while the mainstream account notes that Krasner has supported vacating convictions in over 100 cases, it lacks the critical perspective that these concessions have been scrutinized for their reliability. The court's decision mandates independent state oversight, reflecting concerns that Krasner's approach may have contributed to an increase in violent crime, with a study indicating a statistically significant rise in homicides linked to his de-prosecution policies. This aspect of the narrative suggests a more complex interplay between Krasner's policies and public safety than the mainstream summary conveys, highlighting the contentious nature of his tenure as DA and the implications of the court's ruling for future prosecutorial practices.[2]
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📊 Relevant Data
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit has exonerated more than 35 individuals since 2018, who collectively served more than 675 years in prison; the unit has also facilitated hundreds of juvenile resentencings and dozens of commutations.
Conviction Integrity Unit — Office of the District Attorney (phillyda.org)
📌 Key Facts
- On June 19, 2026, Fox reported a 4-3 Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in the post-conviction case of Levar Brown.
- The court reversed a Philadelphia order granting Brown a new trial that had been supported by DA Larry Krasner’s office.
- The decision requires Philadelphia judges to notify the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and allow it to intervene before granting relief whenever the DA’s office concedes a conviction should be overturned.
- The majority found Krasner’s concession in Brown’s case “was not reliable,” citing withheld evidence, a false stipulation and other deficiencies.
- The opinion said the Philadelphia DA has conceded post-conviction relief well over 100 times since 2018, mostly in murder cases, with more than 1,000 cases still awaiting Conviction Integrity Unit review.
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