With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Should a grand jury look at LA Sheriff’s deputies?
LA County Sheriff's Department patrol vehicle.
(
Courtesy LA County Sheriff's Department
)
Listen
0:48
Should a grand jury look at LA Sheriff’s deputies?
It’s been nearly 30 years since a grand jury was convened to look at a potential problem with L.A.'s criminal justice system. Prominent attorney Charles Linder says it's time for another.
A leading Los Angeles criminal defense attorney is urging the county's presiding judge to appoint a grand jury to investigate the controversy over sheriff's deputies who've engaged in misconduct.
Over the weekend, the Los Angeles Times published a secret 2014 list of nearly 300 of those deputies. The list included deputies who have planted evidence, lied on police reports, or committed misconduct that involved moral turpitude such as domestic violence.
The deputies - about two-thirds are still with the department, according to the paper - helped send many defendants to prison – even though the sheriff's department had deemed their credibility was questionable.
It means a lot of people could have been wrongly convicted, said criminal defense attorney Charles Lindner.
Sponsored message
"If I were the judge and I received a motion for a special grand jury and a special prosecutor, I think I would issue the order," Lindner told KPCC.
Any attorney could petition the county's presiding judge to appoint a special grand jury. But the judge would be more likely to appoint one if the petition came from the criminal defense bar, Lindner said.
Criminal Courts Bar Association President Evan Freed had no immediate comment on the publication of the list of deputies. He said he would need to speak with his board of directors before addressing the issue.
It's been nearly 30 years since such a grand jury was convened, according to Lindner. It happened after reports that L.A. prosecutors routinely used false testimony from a jailhouse informant.
The L.A. District Attorney and Sheriff's Department also had no immediate comment on the publication of the list.
Under a 1963 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, police and prosecutors are required to give defense attorneys any evidence that might suggest a defendant is innocent. That includes evidence that the arresting deputy has lied in any previous case, or that the deputy's credibility may be somehow impeached.
That's why Sheriff Jim McDonnell this year tried to hand the list of deputies over to prosecutors. But the deputies union sued to stop him.
Sponsored message
The Association of Los Angeles Sheriff's Deputies claims the list unfairly paints deputies who are on it as corrupt.
The issue is now before the state supreme court.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
