Pennsylvania Supreme Court Orders AG Review of Krasner Conviction Concessions in 100-Plus Cases
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 19
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Orders AG Review of Krasner Conviction Concessions in 100-Plus Cases
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 19
Summary
A 4-3 Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling reversed a new-trial order for convicted murderer Levar Brown and required Philadelphia judges to notify the attorney general before granting relief when DA Larry Krasner’s office concedes a conviction.
The majority said Krasner’s concession in Brown’s case was unreliable, citing withheld evidence, a false factual stipulation, misstated pleadings, an inadequate investigation and opposition to a required evidentiary hearing.
Justice Kevin Dougherty wrote that the problem extended beyond Brown’s case: Philadelphia’s DA has conceded relief well over 100 times since 2018, mostly in murder cases, and more than 1,000 cases remain before its Conviction Integrity Unit.
Attorney General Dave Sunday welcomed the new check and said his office is assessing staffing and budget effects, while Krasner called the order anti-democratic and said it singles out Philadelphia unlike any other county.
The court said the attorney general will not control Krasner’s cases but will add an adversarial review meant to improve reliability in future post-conviction proceedings.
How might this Supreme Court ruling impact the future of criminal justice reform and exonerations in Philadelphia's courts?
Will the Pennsylvania Attorney General's new oversight speed up or slow down justice for those claiming wrongful convictions in Philadelphia?
State Attorney General Now Oversees Philadelphia DA’s Efforts to Overturn Convictions After 2026 Supreme Court Ruling
Overview
In June 2026, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling that gives the state's Attorney General new authority to oversee and approve any efforts by the Philadelphia District Attorney to overturn past convictions. This creates a critical new layer of review for post-conviction relief, meaning the DA's attempts to vacate convictions are now subject to state-level intervention. The decision marks a major shift in power from local to state prosecutors and will have immediate effects on ongoing and future cases, especially those where the DA seeks to reverse convictions. This ruling fundamentally changes how criminal justice oversight works in Philadelphia.