A civil rights lawyer with a priority to decarcerate has entered Philly’s DA race

The field of candidates running for Philadelphia district attorney keeps crowding, but criminal justice reform advocates should take notice of the newest contender.

Civil rights lawyer and criminal defense attorney Lawrence Krasner has entered the race and made three priorities clear: The 56-year-old candidate wants to decarcerate, reform the bail system that keeps low-income people locked up and get rid of the death penalty.

According to the Inquirer, Krasner also wants “smarter” law enforcement, which sounds a lot like incumbent DA Seth Williams‘ longstanding promise to be “smart on crime.”

Krasner, however, might fill the void left in criminal justice reformers’ hearts when Philly’s chief defender Keir Bradford-Grey decided not to join the race — the Inquirer report says the lawyer worked as a public defender in Philly from 1987 to 1991, followed by a stint as a federal defender until 1993.

[Editor’s note: This morning, Williams announced he would not seek reelection. Read more here.]