Media Contact

Imelda Mejia, ACLU of Texas, 346-299-6803, [email protected]

February 25, 2020

HOUSTON – Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced a new program to allow private attorneys to prosecute certain misdemeanor cases instead of county prosecutors.

Sarah Labowitz, policy director for the ACLU of Texas, had this reaction:

“District Attorney Kim Ogg should be focused on implementing long-promised reforms to make all communities safer and diverting people from entering an already-overwhelmed criminal justice system. Ogg’s pro bono prosecutor program does the opposite by expanding the government’s capacity to pursue misdemeanors. There are plenty of other pro bono opportunities for lawyers of all levels of experience to provide services to those who cannot afford representation.”