On today’s podcast we present an exclusive conversation with Eric Siddall vice president of the ADDA the professional association for Deputy District Attorneys of Los Angeles county. Siddall joins me to discuss the first year of Los Angeles district attorney George Gascons term in office. In a November New York Times article entitled He’s Remaking Criminal Justice in L.A. But How Far Is Too Far? Emily Bazelon and Jennifer Medina compare the tenures of reform oriented prosecutors Kim Fox in Chicago and Larry Krasner in Philadelphia to George Gascón’s experience here in Los Angeles. Both Fox and ..read more

Carla Cackowski reflects on the culpability of the average viewer who may have — intentionally or not — lifted up a person not deserving of public adulation ..read more

In Part 95, Judge Mader concludes her chronicle of a year in the life of a judge. In her afterword, Judge Mader reflects on the family members who got her to where she is today ..read more

In Part 94, Judge Mader recounts a unique apology from a defendant’s family member to a victim’s family during a sentencing hearing. The Judge also details a catch-22 situation where a defendant is deemed neither competent enough to enter a plea because nor eligible for release without a trial ..read more

In Part 93, Judge Mader explains a tactic she uses both to discipline herself to follow the law and to discourage prosecutors from over-charging. She also reflects on a plea deal she approved that she has come to feel is unfair to the victims in the case ..read more

In Part 92, Judge Mader assesses the dismissal of a vehicular manslaughter case based on evidence of faulty brakes. The Judge also explores some of the specific legal perils faced by a defendant who decides to represent themselves when accused of a sex crime ..read more

In Part 91, Judge Mader discusses the case of a repeat offender seeking a lesser sentence because of health concerns, while reflecting on an earlier case to muse on unexpected romantic pairings that she sees in court proceedings ..read more

In Part 90, Judge Mader explains the role of a court commissioner and what happens when these court officers make a misstep. She then details the boundaries she sets for herself when friends and family ask for legal advice ..read more

In Part 7 of our Crime Story Series Nuremberg, we examine the U.K. prosecutors’ tightly-focused presentation of Count Two of the indictment, particularly as it played in contrast to the Americans’ unapologetic power-grab ..read more

In Part 89, Judge Mader discusses the complex considerations when resolving conflicts between parties in court. The Judge then looks to the Thanksgiving holiday and reflects on what she is thankful for in the American criminal justice system ..read more