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 does not fully capture the critical perspective on Krasner's approach to post-conviction cases. While it mentions that Krasner's office has conceded relief in many instances, it lacks the analysis that highlights the potential risks associated with these concessions. Rafael A. Mangual argues that Krasner's repeated agreements to vacate convictions without adequate scrutiny may lead to unreliable outcomes, necessitating the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's intervention to restore necessary checks on his power. This perspective emphasizes the importance of procedural safeguards to prevent miscarriages of justice, a nuance that the mainstream account downplays in its focus on Krasner's accomplishments.
Additionally, the summary does not address the broader implications of the ruling, particularly the structural incentives that may have influenced Krasner's office. The court's opinion points to a documented pattern of unreliable concessions and misstatements since 2018, suggesting that the push for progressive prosecutorial reforms may sometimes prioritize policy goals over the legal merits of individual cases. This critical context is essential for understanding the tensions between progressive reform and the need for accountability in the justice system, which the mainstream coverage does not adequately explore.
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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.
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"A City Journal opinion criticizing Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner’s pattern of conceding post‑conviction relief, endorsing the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision to impose state oversight as a necessary procedural check to ensure reliable, transparent vacatur decisions rather than ideological or hasty reversals."
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time