The allegations against Eusi Phillips, a former Orleans Parish assistant district attorney, were serious. Hiding evidence, paying off someone in prison - he was accused of it all. Now, this disturbing scandal is coming to a shocking conclusion.
In 2008, defendant Jamaal Tucker was on trial for murder. The testimony from a man in prison who claimed Tucker confessed to the crime helped ensure his conviction.
But then, over a year later, a damning letter emerged, revealing the testimony wasn’t what it appeared to be. It had been compromised in the worst way.
Prosecutors illegally failed to disclose to defense attorneys that Phillips offered the inmate a prison transfer in exchange for testimony! The letter exposed the damaging truth.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro denied these claims - but not before agreeing to scrap the conviction. Unsurprising! Cannizzaro’s office has also been accused of using fake subpoenas among other corrupt acts.
When it was time to punish Phillips, only Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson took a stand for justice. Her cowardly peers chose to dismiss the misconduct allegation.
Actions like this especially ruin Black people’s lives.
Black people that end up in court bear the brunt of such corrupt behavior. And prosecutors that break the rules and get away with it shouldn’t escape accountability! We MUST check and monitor prosecutors’ power - they use it too often to ruin our lives.