Author: Nick Chrastil
- About Nick Chrastil
- Nicholas Chrastil covers criminal justice for The Lens. As a freelancer, his work has appeared in Slate, Undark, Mother Jones, and the Atavist, among other outlets. Chrastil has a master's degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University, where his research focused on New Orleans' newspapers during the Reconstruction era. During his time at LSU, he also covered the Louisiana state legislature as part of the Manship Statehouse Bureau. He is a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In Linda Frickey case, DA Williams using controversial legal doctrine to seek life sentences for 4 teens
The decision by District Attorney Jason William to charge the teens as adults was controversial, if not surprising. During his campaign for DA, Williams promised to keep all cases involving kids in juvenile court, and frequently cited research on youth brain development that indicates kids are more susceptible to peer pressure, more likely to engage in risky behavior, and less likely to consider the consequences of that behavior.
How will the DA’s decision to revive the habitual offender law impact plea negotiations in New Orleans?
Proposal to give police 25-foot buffer raises constitutional concerns
Jurors return to criminal court in New Orleans after pause due to summons debacle, but concerns remain
The court has updated language on mailed summonses, but attorneys question completeness of juror rolls.
With future of city’s gun violence office uncertain, health department to develop its own ‘robust’ prevention program
Health director Dr. Jennifer Avegno says she wants to put tens of millions behind violence intervention programs.
Alleged exclusion of people with felonies from jury pool doesn’t warrant new trial, judge rules
Jury summonses continued to list outdated qualifications after a state law change in 2021.
After halting Criminal Court jury trials, hearing reveals new details on juror summons
Lawyers and advocates argue jurors with felony convictions have been improperly excluded from jury pools.
Jury trials in New Orleans criminal court halted through February
Eligible jurors may have been excluded as far back as Aug. 2021 when a new state law went into effect.
State appellate court orders hearing on whether New Orleans criminal court has been illegally excluding people with felony convictions from serving on juries
Previous convictions could be challenged pending the outcome of the hearing.
