How did a routine review of a 2009 murder conviction unravel into a massive obstruction of justice scandal?

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What began as a standard post-conviction review of Dennis Johnson’s 2009 murder conviction escalated because the court found the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office may have shifted from evaluating the merits of the case to protecting itself. Johnson sought federal habeas relief, and in 2022 the DA’s office filed papers supporting overturning his conviction on ineffective-assistance grounds. The problem emerged when internal supervisors later reviewed that filing and said it contained material misstatements, was not backed by a meaningful independent investigation, and relied too heavily on defense organizations’ work rather than the office’s own scrutiny of evidence. At evidentiary hearings before U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond, former prosecutor Jaclyn Mason testified she was directed to file the concession brief without reviewing key materials such as transcripts and homicide files. She also said that when the court began probing the errors, supervisors urged her to take personal blame for mistakes to shield others. She resigned rather than do that. Other prosecutors testified that conflicts had developed around Matthew Stiegler, a top deputy involved in the case, and that the matter should have been referred to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. According to the judge’s findings, Larry Krasner resisted that step and argued someone needed to stay involved to “protect the office,” which staff interpreted as a conflict in itself. Diamond ultimately said the r…

Judge Refers Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner to DOJ Over 4 Possible Crimes

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Judge Refers Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner to DOJ Over 4 Possible Crimes

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