A federal judge in Philadelphia has referred District Attorney Larry Krasner to the Justice Department for a potential investigation into alleged legal violations related to a high-profile case review. U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond, appointed by former President George W. Bush, also ordered Krasner and Assistant District Attorney Matthew Stiegler removed from any further involvement in the reconsideration of a 2009 murder conviction that has become the focus of controversy.
The case involves Dennis Johnson, who was convicted in 2009 of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Kenyatta Smith during a robbery two years earlier. Johnson was sentenced to life in prison in 2010 based partly on eyewitness testimony identifying him as the shooter. In November 2022, Krasner’s office filed a petition seeking Johnson’s release, arguing he had received ineffective legal counsel during his trial.
Judge Diamond’s findings point to a troubling pattern, stating that Krasner and Stiegler may have engaged in perjury, obstruction of justice, making false statements under oath, and conspiracy. The judge’s concerns stem from alleged pressure exerted on staff members who raised conflict of interest issues surrounding Stiegler’s handling of the case. Court documents show that employees expressing such concerns faced warnings about potential consequences.
Central to the controversy is the involvement of then-Assistant District Attorney Jaclyn Mason, who signed the petition advocating for Johnson’s release. Diamond highlighted Mason’s background in patent and trademark law, noting she lacked criminal litigation experience. Stiegler, who supervised Mason, had assigned her to the case despite having already decided to seek Johnson’s release after conferring with the defendant’s new attorney and the local Innocence Project chapter, which works to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals.
According to the judge, Stiegler’s decision to assign Mason to the case, without directing her to conduct an independent investigation, increased the risk that critical decisions would go unchallenged. In June 2023, Krasner’s office moved to withdraw the petition due to “material misstatements.” Mason had resigned days earlier, accusing Stiegler of using her to advance a personal agenda favoring concessions in federal habeas cases regardless of their merits and stating she was told to “fall on my sword.”
Judge Diamond further noted that Stiegler attempted to shift blame onto Mason after the petition’s withdrawal, insisting that any false information was solely her responsibility and not his. Stiegler did not respond to requests for comment. Krasner’s office, backed by funding from George Soros, has strongly disagreed with the judge’s conclusions. Krasner issued a statement rejecting the allegations and expressing intent to appeal at the earliest opportunity.
The case underscores ongoing tensions within the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and highlights broader debates over prosecutorial conduct and post-conviction reviews in complex criminal cases.