Philly's elected prosecutor sues to stop law designed to limit authority on transit system crimes

Philadelphia's two-term elected district attorney said Thursday he wants a court to stop plans to appoint a special prosecutor who would handle crimes on the city's transit system under a new law designed to dilute his authority that he argues is unconstitutional.

- Brooke Schultz

It's not the first time progressive District Attorney Larry Krasner has gone to court over lawmakers' efforts, which he argues overstep their authority to punish him over political differences.

"When I made the unexpected decision to run for DA in 2017, I thought that meant district attorney," Krasner said at a news conference about the litigation. "I didn't know the DA actually stood for democracy advocate."

The measure, which saw bipartisan support in the House and was signed by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro last month, created a special prosecutor with the authority to investigate and prosecute crimes that occur on the city's public transit system, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).

The lawsuit seeking to block the law's implementation alleges the special prosecutor would take 89% of the land area from the city out of the district attorney's jurisdiction. The lawsuit asks that the law get thrown out and an injunction be issued to prevent Attorney General Michelle Henry from implementing it.