On Thursday, March 27, 2025, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office has accused a Philadelphia judge of showing improper bias in a case involving a significant financial penalty against the DA’s office. Common Pleas Court Judge Anne Marie Coyle recently imposed a $120,000 fine on Krasner’s office, prompting allegations of partiality from prosecutors.
In a motion filed last week, Krasner’s office argued that Judge Coyle’s statements during her ruling were excessively emotional and displayed favoritism towards individuals challenging the DA’s office. They claimed this created an “appearance of partiality” that warranted her recusal from the case. The prosecution also pointed to social media activity by Coyle’s law clerk, who allegedly liked posts expressing a desire to see Krasner ousted from office.
Judge Coyle denied the recusal motion, stating it lacked merit, but did not provide further details. She indicated that she was restricted from discussing the matter outside of court while still presiding over the case. Krasner’s office has announced plans to appeal both the recusal decision and the original ruling that resulted in the fine.
During a court session on March 13, Coyle criticized Krasner’s office for its management of a 2018 case in which a Philadelphia man was exonerated of murder charges. Coyle accused the DA’s office of making unfounded allegations against two former prosecutors and engaging in a prolonged effort to obstruct one of them, Beth McCaffery, from accessing case files to clear her name.
In the motion, prosecutors highlighted Coyle’s comments to McCaffery in court, suggesting that the judge’s remarks hinted at personal experiences with unfair treatment, which could reflect bias against Krasner’s administration. They expressed concern that her past criticisms from appellate courts, which labeled her conduct as exhibiting “animus” towards the DA’s office, compounded this issue.
Krasner’s office further suggested that Coyle’s emotional defense of former prosecutor Ed Cameron, who passed away in 2020, indicated that her personal feelings influenced her judgment. Coyle had characterized Cameron as a gentleman and an exemplary attorney, prompting prosecutors to argue that this emotional response raised questions about her impartiality.
Additionally, the motion pointed out that Coyle’s law clerk’s social media activity, which included liking posts critical of Krasner, heightened concerns regarding the integrity of the proceedings. One post explicitly expressed hope that Coyle’s ruling would contribute to Krasner’s removal from office, while another suggested considering disbarment and criminal charges against him.
In response to the allegations concerning the law clerk, Coyle maintained her silence, adhering to her prohibition against discussing ongoing cases outside of court. Krasner’s office contended that the clerk’s actions exacerbated doubts about the fairness of the judicial process, especially since the clerk was called as a witness in the ongoing dispute.
The case continues to unfold, with Krasner’s spokesperson indicating that the appeal regarding Coyle’s recusal decision will be combined with the existing appeal concerning broader issues in the case. It remains unclear how quickly these matters will be addressed by a higher court.
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer
