Abraham defends work, criticizes city justice system

Former District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham, stung by reports that her office had consistently low conviction rates, defended her performance Monday and criticized the rest of the city's criminal justice system as riddled with "deeply troubling" problems.

Abraham, who left office in January after 18 years, cited widespread witness fear, a massive fugitive problem, a dysfunctional bail system, and the dismissal of thousands of cases annually with no ruling on the merits.

Speaking at a hearing of the U.S. Senate subcommittee on crime and drugs, Abraham faulted Philadelphia judges as being too lenient and too quick to toss out cases. She criticized defense lawyers for "gaming the system" through deliberate delays aimed at wearing down victims and witnesses.

She blasted a bail system that allows fugitives to skip court with virtual impunity. And she faulted court clerks for shoddy record-keeping that has thwarted the city's efforts to collect nearly $1 billion in forfeited bail.

Even as she decried these failings, Abraham criticized The Inquirer for a series of stories on the courts that she said unfairly portrayed "a system in disarray, or worse, collapse."

"The criminal justice system of this city is not now, as has been almost hysterically proclaimed . . . a broken system," she said.

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (D., Pa.) convened the hearing in response to an Inquirer series published in December that explored many of the issues cited Monday by Abraham, including an ineffective bail program, endemic witness intimidation, and abysmal conviction rates.

Specter, who faces a challenge from U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak in this month's Democratic primary, called three hearings in response to the newspaper series, which he said he found alarming. The first focused on witness intimidation, the second centered on fugitives, and Monday's session was dedicated to resolving problems in "overburdened courts."

Also in response to the series, the state Supreme Court enacted sweeping changes in the way Municipal Court hearings are held and has formed a blue-ribbon panel to recommend further improvements.

The state Senate, too, has launched an inquiry into the city's criminal justice system, forming a bipartisan task force to scrutinize the courts to make sure they deliver justice.