re: Some good news: Cannizzaro OUT as Orleans DA

Here's one of ole Keva's most infamous NOLA cases. She was overseeing a "stand your ground" case where a video existed and she would not allow it to be entered as evidence. No biggie, happens all the time I guess. What she did do was mistakenly send texts to the the fricking prosecutor WHILE TESTIMONY was taking place that were meant for the defense.

quote:

---

Section E Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson refused to allow the video to be shown at the trial. The DA’s Office appealed her decision, but a higher court also would not allow it.

Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizarro released a statement to FOX 8 about the judge not allowing the video evidence:

“We believe the trial judge erred by excluding critical impeachment evidence, notably video evidence that quite clearly demonstrated the violence of which this defendant was capable. Had the jurors been allowed to consider this evidence, I believe they would have concluded that the defendant lied about his inability to protect himself by any other means, and would have arrived at a very different verdict.”

Nero’s attorney said even with the evidence that his client can fight, the size difference would have been a threat.

“Sure, he can fight someone at equal size,” Carter said. “I mean, you look at a boxing match, are you going to put Evander Holyfield in there with a junior high kid? No right, they’re different sizes, you always keep people in the same size for any kind of fight.”

FOX 8 also obtained text messages sent during the trial. Judge Landrum-Johnson accidentally sent them to the prosecutor in the trial, Jason Napoli. While testimony was ongoing in the courtroom, Judge Landrum-Johnson sent the following text exchange with Napoli:


Judge Landrum-Johnson: “had to go in on napoli again. how u don’t have ur rebuttal witness here.”

Judge Landrum-Johnson: “and trying to back door in 404 [character evidence] that I previously denied and the 4th [Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal] denied”

Napoli: “whoops”

Napoli: “This seems appropriate.”

The judge replies to Napoli saying she is glad it was mistakenly sent to him.

Judge Landrum-Johnson: “It is. Happy u saw it”

Judge Landrum-Johnson: “Now u know my thoughts”

Napoli tries to inquire who the judge meant the text messages for originally.

Judge Landrum-Johnson: “None of ur business”

FOX 8 Legal Analyst Joe Raspanti said it is not uncommon for a judge to communicate with people outside of the case.

“To say a judge has never communicated with somebody outside case about a case is naive, they do,” Raspanti said. " I don’t want to say [it is] inappropriate, but it is not something that in the best practices they should do."

Raspanti said for it to be a best practice, both defense lawyers and prosecutors should have been included on any text message.

“This is an ex parte communication between a judge and one attorney,” he said. “Whatever in a trial or any situation you have two lawyers and judge. And the judge can’t communicate to one side without informing the other of anything important in the case.”

But Raspanti said in this case, the exchange between Judge Landrum-Johnson and Napoli would not upset the defense team since the jury acquitted Nero.

---

Keva, Keva, Keva