>>> THE NBC 4 I-TEAM HAS LEARNED
>>> THE NBC 4 I-TEAM HAS LEARNED
THAT THEY’RE TRYING TO GET A
RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST GEORGE
GASCON.
THE UNION SAYS SOME OF THE NEW
MEASURES ARE IN CONFLICT WITH
STATE LAW, PUTTING SOME
PROSECUTORS IN AN IMPOSSIBLE
POSITION IN COURT.
ERIC LEONARD JOINS US TO EXPLAIN
WHAT THE UNION IS TRYING TO DO
HERE.
>> WELL, CAROLYN, WE’VE BEEN
HEARING RUMBLINGS IN OUR
CONTACTS FROM THE LAST FEW DAYS
THAT THE UNION WAS PLANNING TO
TAKE SOME KIND OF LEGAL ACTION
IN RESPONSE TO GASCON’S DAY-ONE
DIRECTIVES.
THESE ARE ALL THE NEW RULES IHE
IMPLEMENTED IN THE HOURS AFTER
HE WAS SWORN IN.
HE ORDERED PROSECUTORS TO DROP
ENHANCEMENTS FOR THINGS LIKE
USING A GUN OR BEING PART OF A
GANG AND BANNED THE USE OF
CALIFORNIA’S THREE-STRIKES LAW
WHICH CAN DOUBLE SENTENCES FOR
THOSE PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF
VIOLENCE OR FELONIES AND LEAD TO
A 25 YEARS TO LIFE SENTENCE FOR
THOSE WITH MULTIPLE VIOLENT
CONVICTIONS.
THEY TOLD GASCON AND THE COUNTY
IN A LETTER THEY WILL ASK A
JUDGE TO ISSUE A RESTRAINING
ORDER ARGUING THAT BLANKET RULES
LIKE THESE ARE UNLAWFUL BECAUSE
EACH CASE SHOULD BE EVALUATED ON
ITS OWN FAC.
THE UNION COMPLAINED THAT A
SECOND AND THIRD STRIKE ARE
REQUIRED TO BE FILED UNDER STATE
LAW AND GASCON CAN’T UNDO THAT
WITHOUT CHANGING THE LAW EITHER
THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE OR BY
VOTERS.
ALREADY HE HAS HAD TO BACK OFF
SOME OF HIS REFORM IDEAS.
ABOUT A WEEK AFTER HE TOOK
OFFICE HE REVERSED PART OF HIS
POLICY ON ENHANCEMENTS BUT TOLD
US HE HAS NO INTENTION TO CHANGE
ANY OF THESE OTHER ORDERS.