HARRISBURG – Today, the ACLU of Pennsylvania and POWER Interfaith filed an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit brought by Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner opposing impeachment proceedings in the state legislature during the current lame duck session.
On December 2, Mr. Krasner filed a legal challenge that asked the Commonwealth Court to dismiss the impeachment effort as unconstitutional and to expedite its decision.
“This impeachment effort is a cynical attempt by some in the General Assembly to punish Mr. Krasner for his work to reform the criminal justice system in Philadelphia,” said Reggie Shuford, executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. “Since taking office, Mr. Krasner has made real progress in ending the criminal prosecution of sex work and marijuana possession, has worked toward alternatives to pretrial detention, and has taken a more balanced approach to sentencing. Working to end mass incarceration and to address the racial disparities in the criminal justice system is not a reason to impeach a duly elected public official. This is a shameful ploy that is unbecoming of those legislators pushing it.”
“Pennsylvania voters decide our elections – not the other way around. We've worked to protect our freedoms across the state during election season,” said Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler, PhD., director of civic engagement for POWER Interfaith and pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church. “Philadelphia voters should be able to rest confident that every single vote will count. This impeachment attempt would effectively disenfranchise Philadelphia voters. We will continue to protect our freedoms, decide our own futures, and ensure the people's will prevails in our elections.”
Mr. Krasner has been accused of no crime or corruption. He won reelection to a second term in a landslide by Philadelphia voters in 2021.
You can find the amicus brief at aclupa.org/krasner.
