PA Supreme Court Axes Impeachment Case Against Philly DA Larry Krasner

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The effort by state legislators to impeach Philadelphia district attorney Larry Krasner was shot down by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Friday, which ruled that the impeachment could not stretch across two different legislative sessions.

Chief Justice Debra Todd's majority 3-1 opinion stated that the impeachment proceedings were "null and void" because they began in 2022, and were not concluded by the end of that session.

It's an important precedent, because the House was under Republican control when the proceedings began. Now, Democrats rule the House.

“Like far too many of the criminals his office prosecutes, Larry Krasner today avoided his trial on the basis of a technicality,” said Philadelphia-based State Rep. Martina White, who introduced the original articles of impeachment. “Krasner has never denied the allegations against him. Instead, his defense has been simply the legislature can’t do anything about it.

State legislators alleged Krasner had been derelict in his duties to uphold the law, and thus has contributed to increased crime in the city. House Republican Leader and former Speaker Bryan Cutler said Krasner was "ignoring the plague of violence in his city."

Democrats retorted that Krasner had simply pursued policies opposed by those in the legislature, and framed efforts to remove Krasner as purely political. The DA's Office called the ruling a "victory for democracy."

"As the Supreme Court recognized, DA Krasner is the elected and 'overwhelmingly' re-elected DA of Philadelphia," Krasner's office said in a statement. "The outcome of every election – including Philadelphia’s – must be respected. The General Assembly’s effort, composed mostly of legislators from outside Philadelphia, to try to upset the Philadelphia election by impeaching DA Krasner was an audacious and undemocratic act."

White implied that the battle to remove Krasner is far from over.

"Today all Philadelphians - and Mr. Krasner - were denied a day in court to make their case," she added. "He cannot claim his innocence, as that trial has not yet happened."

Krasner was re-elected to his second term in 2021.