We've Got The Power

District attorneys hold a lot of power in the criminal legal system. They have the power to decide the fate of a person who has been accused of a crime at every stage of a criminal case. They also hold tremendous sway with other actors in the criminal legal system, including police officers and even judges.

We, the people, have the power to chose our district attorneys and influence the way they operate in our community.

Please join us for an energizing event about your power to chose the next New Orleans district attorney.

This virtual event will feature music, art performances, and raffle prizes. Attendees will hear from New Orleans residents who are affected by the system and working to change it, people who fought for change in their communities, and district attorneys currently working to reform the criminal legal system. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and talk about what is most important to them in the district attorney race.

Please share far and wide; the information and resources shared at this event will be helpful to people living in and outside of New Orleans.

Panels and Panelists

Vision for New Orleans

Moderated by Clint Smith, Writer, Teacher and Researcher

• Judge Calvin Johnson (ret.), Moderator, The People’s DA Coalition
• Jerome Morgan, Barber, Advocate, & Author, Real Gentleman Barbershop, Free-Dem Foundations & Park Roots Productions
• Lauren Sapp, Staff Attorney, Orleans Public Defenders
• Bonycle Sokunbi, former assistant district attorney and current Acting Chief Monitor, Orleans Independent Police Monitor

Lessons from Change

Moderated by Jamila Hodge, Director, Reshaping Prosecution, Vera Institute of Justice

• Kim Gardner, Circuit Attorney, St. Louis, MO
• Jamala Rogers, Executive Director, Organization for Black Struggle
• Diana Becton, District Attorney, Contra Costa County, CA
• Chala Bonner, Civic Engagement Organizer, Safe Return Project

Sponsorship Opportunities

For information about sponsoring the event, please email Akosua "Naana" Ohene at aohene@vera.org.

Vera Institute of Justice, New Orleans Office

Vera's work in New Orleans began in 2006 when the New Orleans City Council invited us to help bring desperately needed reforms to the criminal legal system. In partnership with justice system actors, city leaders, and community organizations, we are working to shrink the footprint of the jail, provide resources to help voters evaluate district attorney candidates' platforms, develop recommendations for creating representative, equitable and inclusive jury pools, establish alternatives to jailing people with serious mental illnesses, eliminate barriers to attending court hearings, and propose alternative justice system funding structures that do not rely on people caught in the system.