Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Orange County Line

    Orange County Line

    California appeals court rebukes OCDA, Kamala

    Justices say and an OC judge's removal of the DA's office from death-penalty case is justified.

    • rss
    Download MP3
    • Share
    By Gustavo Arellano • Nov 29, 2016 • 4m Listen

    Last week, a state appellate court rejected the arguments of the Orange County District Attorney's office and California Attorney General Kamala Harris that the AG shouldn't take over the controversial death-penalty case of Seal Beach mass shooter Scott Dekraii. Last year, Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals removed the OCDA from the Dekraii case after evidence emerged that Tony Rackaukas' office had for decades withheld from defense attorneys secret logs kept by Orange County Sheriff's deputies. Rackauckas and Harris argued that Goethals was wrong, but the appellate justices disagreed, writing in their opinion that "the magnitude of the systemic problems cannot be overlooked." It's the most high profile loss yet for Rackaukas, whose office's so-called snitch scandal has earned national attention. What's next for the Dekraii case?

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Gustavo Arellano

      columnist, LA Times

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Benjamin Gottlieb

      Reporter, Fill-in Host

      CultureNewsOrange County
    Back to Orange County Line