In Connick v. Thompson, a 5-4 decision written by Justice Clarence Thomas, the Supreme Court sided with the Orleans Parish District Attorneys office after John Thompson served 18 years in prison for murder because a group of prosecutors failed to turn over Brady evidence proving his innocence. Because prosecutors have absolute immunity, the only relief an Mr. Thompson has is to sue the office in its capacity as a municipality under 1983. Unfortunately, the Court has now barred such a municipality from being held liable regarding the failure to train prosecutors on the proper handling of Brady evidence because the need for training was not so obvious as to meet the standard of deliberate indifference, unless there is a pattern of such behavior--even though, in this case, the policy maker himself was not aware of the requirements of Brady. Because the Court has failed to hold the DA office accountable, the only opportunity for justice Mr. Thompson has is to expose the intentional incrimination of African Americans and egregious failings of the Orleans Parish DAs office.
We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens who urge the producers of the Oprah Winfrey Show to publicize the grave injustice suffered by John Thompson in what has become the Dred Scott decision of our era.