Garcetti Defends Decision to Prosecute Case as ‘3rd Strike’

Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti on Friday attempted to quell criticism from a Los Angeles Superior Court judge who assailed him this week for seeking a “three strikes” conviction against a homeless man accused of cocaine possession.

Garcetti said he determined that Judge David P. Yaffe had not been aware that the defendant, who was acquitted, had a criminal record to demonstrate that he was a “revolving door” criminal. Garcetti defended his office’s decision to prosecute the case, saying his deputies exercised their discretion properly.

He also said Yaffe “could have picked up the phone” instead of issuing a verbal assault from the bench. Garcetti said he urged to judge to contact his office if he wishes to voice concerns about deputy district attorneys’ discretion in the future.