New York discovery law changes threaten defendants' rights

John Grisham is speaking out against proposed changes to New York's discovery laws. These laws require prosecutors to share evidence with the defense before a trial. Grisham has been an advocate for better discovery rules and celebrated when reforms were passed in 2020. Before these reforms, New York had some of the worst discovery laws in the country, which were often called the “blindfold law.” Prosecutors did not have to share important evidence until just before a trial, which made it hard for defendants to prepare their cases. Since the reforms, there has been no evidence of the negative effects that some prosecutors predicted. Now, Governor Hochul is pushing for significant changes to these laws. The proposed changes would allow prosecutors to decide what evidence is “relevant” to share. Prosecutors argue that current requirements are too burdensome, but critics, including Grisham, say this will unfairly benefit their side. Grisham points out that the real issue is not the discovery laws but the police's lack of compliance with them. He suggests that instead of rolling back reforms, the focus should be on ensuring police share evidence properly. Without timely disclosure of evidence, innocent people are at risk of wrongful conviction. Grisham warns that if these changes pass, they could lead to more miscarriages of justice. He emphasizes that the stakes are high, citing that many wrongful convictions in New York involved prosecutors withholding evidence.