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I’m enraged. We’re so close to passing common sense, long overdue reform *already adopted & working in rest of the country.* Then last minute, NY prosecutors waltz in w/ the same old, tired scare tactics DEBUNKED by prosecutors & experience nationwide, & NY lawmakers now hedging.
People keep asking me how it’s possible that NY still has the worst evidence laws in country. Laws which deny defendants access to all information until day of trial. “It doesn’t make sense.” The answer is simple: NY prosectors & their cynical desire to win at all costs.
Serious question: When will lawmakers stop listening to prosecutors at expense of every one else, including nationwide prosecutors? Can’t trust bailbondsmen on bail policy. Can’t trust private prisons on jail. Why trust DAs in state w/ 2d highest rate of wrongful convictions?
Why not listen to public defenders instead? We see how systematic prosecutorial withholding of evidence *allowed by NY’s insanely outmoded discovery laws* leads to undermined representation, ill-informed guilty pleas, & wrongful convictions everyday:
Why not listen to people directly impacted in NY instead? They understand better than anyone how prosecutor’s cynical play for power at expense of truth & justice keeps people locked up pretrial for months & years, coerces guilty pleas, & destroys lives:
Listen to crime victims: “Discovery reform doesnt threaten the safety of survivors of assault & abuse. Nearly every other state in country has passed discovery reform, leading to greater justice & transparency, & not to witness or victim intimidation. avp.org/lgbtq-women-su…
Instead of listening to NY prosecutors spread false fear about blood running through the streets if common sense reform passed & people accused of crimes were actually able to know the evidence against them, look at a map of the rest of the country! *NY law is a harsh outlier.* 
Why not listen to prosecutors outside NY, who value their common sense discovery laws bc they allow them to do their jobs while also allowing the defense to carry out their constitutional obligations all while minimizing bad convictions? From VA, NY, & LA:
Or hell: Listen to then-Gov. Rick Perry of Texas talking about fairness & justice in 2013 while signing the most progressive discovery law in the country. No state that has gone back to regressive prior laws after passing new discovery laws. Bc they work.
Put simply: NY prosecutors cannot be trusted on justice policy. Theyre happy w/ the status quo. It gives them power. And if they’re okay keeping people accused of crimes in the dark, you can bet they’ll gladly pull the wool over the eyes of voters & legislators. Don’t let them.
Visit justiceisblindfolded.com to make calls to your lawmakers. Write direct emails to them. Direct tweet them. Learn more. “Discovery” sounds wonky, but it’s as big an issue in NY as bail & Rikers. It’s about fundamental fairness. Please dont let prosecutors defeat justice again.
