Nathan Hockman was formally sworn in as the 44th Los Angeles County District Attorney Tuesday during a ceremony on the front steps of the Hall of Justice.
Hockman replaces former District Attorney George Gascon, who won re-election in a landslide in November.
Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger formally swore in Mr. Hochman. Speakers at the ceremony included Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Berger, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell, and other local leaders.
About a dozen people attended the ceremony to voice their opposition to some of Hochman’s proposed policy changes.
Of the many issues Hochman inherited from his former prosecutor, none may garner as much attention as the Menendez brothers’ murders.
Gascón announced in October that he supported the outrage against his brother, who has been imprisoned for nearly 35 years for the murder of his parents.
Lyle Menendez (age 21 at the time) and Eric Menendez (age 18 at the time) feared that their parents were trying to kill them to prevent Jose Menendez’s sexual activity from becoming public knowledge. He admitted to shooting and killing his father, Jose Menendez, and his mother, Kitty Menendez. According to the Associated Press, he abused Eric Menendez for years.
The outrageous recommendation could give the brothers a chance at freedom after spending more than 30 years in prison. In 1996, they were sentenced to life in prison without parole.
In an exclusive sit-down interview with KTLA in November, Hochman outlined his plan to solve the case.
“Whether it’s the Menendez case or honestly any case, my approach is: You have to put in the hard work,” he told KTLA. “In that case, we would have to sift through thousands of pages of confidential prison files, review thousands of court records from months-long trials, and speak with prosecutors, law enforcement, and defense attorneys. Hmm…and the families of the victims.”
“Only then will we be in a position to determine whether re-sentencing is a remedy in this situation, or whether what is being sought in re-sentencing is an appropriate request,” Hochman continued. “I’m not in that position right now, but I can tell you that if I have to make a decision like that, I’m going to work hard to make the right decision.”
Los Angeles County’s new prosecutor also vowed to “eliminate extreme pro-crime policies and empower 750 prosecutors that Mr. Gascón didn’t even talk to.”
“I’m going to listen to them and learn from them.” [because] Together, they have thousands of years of experience as prosecutors, and I’ve been there for 34 years, and I understand the difference. So I ask them what’s working and keep doing it. [I will ask] What’s not working and what’s the solution? [those problems]”Hockman said.
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