Ben Mannes: Judge cites Krasner for misconduct

Larry Krasner has once again found himself at the center of legal and ethical controversies, a possible sign that the ethically questionable regime at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is losing its political “air cover.” 

On March 13, 2025, Judge Anne Marie Coyle imposed $120,000 in sanctions against Krasner’s office for what was deemed a “bad faith” attack on former prosecutor Beth McCaffery. This latest rebuke raises serious concerns about Krasner’s handling of wrongful prosecutions, politically motivated lawsuits, and potential financial improprieties tied to his administration.

Judge Coyle’s ruling against Krasner’s office underscores the persistent allegations of misconduct that have plagued his tenure. The judge determined that Krasner’s accusations of “egregious prosecutorial misconduct” against McCaffery, late former ADA Ed Cameron, and former ADA Richie Sax in former homicide prosecutions taken on by the Krasner administration’s scandal plagued initiative to overturn former cases, were not only baseless but malicious. The court found that the District Attorney’s Office (DAO) had deliberately obfuscated requests for discovery, and possibly concealed and removed exculpatory documents, thereby violating the due process rights of the prosecutors targeted by Krasner’s so-called reform efforts.

This ruling may be just the beginning of Krasner’s legal troubles. According to reporting from Ralph Cipriano’s BigTrial Substack, police officers Joe Bologna, Richard Nicoletti, and Ryan Pownall — who were aggressively prosecuted by Krasner under questionable legal pretenses that also appear to be a violation of these officers’ civil rights — may be pursuing legal action against Krasner. These officers argue that they were unfairly targeted for political reasons rather than legal merit, echoing the court’s finding that Krasner’s actions have been guided more by ideological bias than by the pursuit of justice.

The judge’s findings add to the mounting calls for a deeper criminal investigation into Krasner’s financial dealings. Reports have surfaced that Krasner accepted potentially illegal Political Action Committee (PAC) donations, raising concerns about election law violations. Additionally, it has been alleged that Krasner has financially benefited from renting office space to PAC donors through his Tiger Building LP facility on Locust Street. Such arrangements, if proven, could point to conflicts of interest and potential violations of anti-corruption statutes.

One of the most troubling aspects of the recent ruling against the Krasner administration is centered around his office’s practice of referring convicted criminals to conflicted lawyers who then sue the city for wrongful incarceration. Many of these cases involve individuals whom Krasner’s office aggressively worked to “exonerate” through dubious legal maneuvers. The case at the center of Judge Coyle’s ruling involves Dontia Patterson, whom Krasner freed by accusing McCaffery of prosecutorial misconduct—an accusation now discredited by Judge Coyle’s ruling. Patterson subsequently sued the city and received a $1.7 million settlement, raising questions about whether Krasner’s wrongful conviction unit is being weaponized for political and financial gain. 

Records show that the Patterson case is not an isolated incident. In January, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry argued to the state supreme court that judges should no longer trust Krasner’s attempts at freeing convicted killers. This is because, when a criminal defense lawyer goes to court and seeks to free a convicted killer on the basis of alleged misconduct by prosecutors or police, Krasner’s office has routinely failed to defend the original prosecution in court, instead filing a “joint stipulation” ostensibly agreeing with criminal defense attorneys, asking a judge to set aside a murder conviction, rather than retrying the case. When this happens, it’s akin to the DA’s office “dropping the charges” after the convicted murder has spent years in prison, which enables that murderer to walk free and sue the city for damages. The American legal system is adversarial; Krasner short-circuits this by refusing to advocate on behalf of his own side. 

This unethical practice by the Krasner administration has resulted in over 45 “exonerations” of former felons. Of the 45, the first 22 exonerees have sued the city and collected a total of $84.5 million from taxpayers. This prompted then-AG Henry to call out the practice in an argument to the states highest court pursuant to a rare legal challenge known as a King’s Bench petition filed in 2023 by the widows of two murder victims, Michael Richardson and Robert Crawford. 

Krasner’s legal troubles emerge

In just the last three months, courts have ruled against Krasner’s absolute immunity in civil rights cases against police officers, the AG argued against him in a King’s Bench petition, and now the courts have ruled him liable for defamation against former prosecutors in his attempts to free a convicted murderer. 

For over six years, Broad + Liberty and other outlets have reported on additional allegations of corruption within the DAO, which until now have gone without official scrutiny by a Shapiro-led Attorney General and Biden-appointed US Attorney. 

Judge Coyle’s ruling makes clear that Krasner’s DAO has engaged in a “lack of candor” and outright dishonesty when handling wrongful conviction cases. Disturbingly, this is not the first nor even second time this type of admonishment has been delivered to the Krasner Administration by Pennsylvania judges elected from both sides of the aisle. This pattern of behavior not only undermines the justice system but also exposes self-insured Philadelphia taxpayers to costly lawsuits and settlements, in addition to the threat of new violent crimes stemming from Krasner’s reckless legal decisions.

Krasner’s willingness to dismantle longstanding legal norms in favor of his ideological agenda has not gone unnoticed. State lawmakers have previously sought his impeachment, and now, with the weight of Judge Coyle’s sanctions and potential legal actions from wrongfully prosecuted police officers, the calls for his removal may grow louder.

As more details emerge regarding Krasner’s alleged financial and legal misconduct, it is imperative that state and federal authorities conduct thorough investigations into his office’s practices. From possible election law violations involving illegal PAC contributions to the self-serving financial arrangements surrounding his rental properties, the pattern of corruption appears extensive. If Krasner’s tenure has proven anything, it is that political ideology cannot replace the rule of law, and justice cannot be administered through manipulation and deceit.

In the coming months, as the legal battles against Krasner intensify, the question remains: Will Philadelphia continue to tolerate an administration mired in scandal, or will accountability finally be served?

Based in Philadelphia, A. Benjamin Mannes is a consultant and subject matter expert in security and criminal justice reform based on his own experiences on both sides of the criminal justice system. He is a corporate compliance executive who has served as a federal and municipal law enforcement officer, and as the former Director, Office of Investigations with the American Board of Internal Medicine. @PublicSafetySME