Alameda County DA to review 35 death penalty cases after apparent racial bias by prosecutors

WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE COMPLETE COVERAGE AND PLENTY OF ARCHIVE FOOTAGE TONIGHT AT 11:00. PAMELA PRICE MADE A HER OFFICE IS REVIEWING NEARLY THREE DOZEN DEATH PENALTY CASES FOR POSSIBLE MISCONDUCT BY THE PROSECUTORS ASSIGNED TO THOSE CASES. THIS ALL STEMS FROM A REVIEW OF THE TRIAL AND DA

CLAIMS THAT NOTES WRITTEN BY PROSECUTORS WARRANT A CLOSER LOOK. Reporter: ALAMEDA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PAMELA PRICE SAYS ALL EYES WILL BE ON AT LEAST 35 DEATH PENALTY CASES AFTER DISCOVERING EVIDENCE OF PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT. ALAMEDA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PAMELA PRICE SAYS IT WAS A DISCOVERY OF CASE NOTES LIKE

THESE IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL JURORS BY RACE AND ETHNICITY AS JEWISH AND POSSIBLE OPPONENTS OF THE DEATH PENALTY THAT’S OPENED A PANDORA’S BOX. EVIDENCE OF PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT INVOLVED IN THE DEATH PENALTY CASES. Reporter: PRICE SAYS A INDIVIDUAL IN NORTHERN TO REVIEW NEARLY A DOZEN DEATH PENALTY CASES. THE FIRST RED

FLAG PRICE SAYS SURFACED IN THE CURRENTLY ON DEATH ROW FOR THE MURDER OF LANCE CLARK AND THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF HIS GRANDMOTHER. PRICE SAYS HER OFFICE STUMBLED UPON NOTES HIGHLIGHTING THE RACE AND ETHNICITY OF POTENTIAL JURORS IN THE CASE. IN THE COURSE OF REVIEWING MR. DIKE’S SENTENCE, WHICH

IS PENDING, HIS CASE IS PENDING BEFORE THE JUDGE, MY OFFICE DISCOVERED EVIDENCE OF A PATTERN OF MISCONDUCT, PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT THAT MAY WELL IMPACT ALL OF THE DEATH PENALTY CASES IN ALAMEDA COUNTY OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS. Reporter: WHILE THE REVIEW IS

LIKELY TO REOPEN OLD WOUNDS, THE PRESIDENT

OF CRIME VICTIMS UNITED SAYS IT’S IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM DELIVERED A JUST OUTCOME. I THINK THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S HANDS ARE TIED. SHE HAS TO FOLLOW A COURT ORDER, OBVIOUSLY. Reporter: THE OFFICE IS REVIEWING 35 DEATH PENALTY CASES AND SAYS THE PROBE COULD SPREAD FURTHER. SOME

WORRY ABOUT THE TOLL ON FAMILIES WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN VICTIMS OF CRIME AND LIVED THROUGH THE TRAUMA OF A CRIME TRIAL. MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE VICTIMS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE CASES. I’M SURE THEY ENDURED A LONG PROCESS TO EVEN GET TO WHERE THEY ARE AND GET A

CONVICTION, AND I BELIEVE PROBABLY WITH ALL THEIR HEARTS THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD SOME FINALITY AND COULD MOVE FORWARD. SO I’M SURE THIS MUST BE DEVASTATING NEWS. Reporter: AND WHILE THIS REVIEW IS ONGOING, THE DA’S OFFICE IS REACHING OUT TO VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY

THESE CRIMES. AND THE DA SAYS THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF AN INVESTIGATION THAT COULD LEAD TO MORE CASES. THE DA’S OFFICE HAS ADVOCATES WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO HELP VICTIMS AND WITNESSES IN THESE CASES. IF THEY HAVEN’T REACHED OUT TO YOU YET, AND YOU’RE CONNECTED TO ONE OF

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