– Former New Orleans District Attorney Harry Connick Sr. death
– Harry Connick Sr. New Orleans District Attorney.
Harry Connick Sr., Former New Orleans District Attorney, Dies at 97
Harry Connick Sr., the former district attorney of New Orleans who served for three decades, has passed away at the age of 97. Connick’s death occurred on Thursday at his home in New Orleans, where he was surrounded by his wife, Londa, and his children, Suzanna and musician Harry Connick Jr. The obituary, released by Harry Connick Jr.’s publicist, did not provide a cause of death.
A Legacy in Law and Controversy
Connick made his mark in New Orleans’ political landscape when he unseated incumbent prosecutor Jim Garrison in the 1973 election. He went on to win reelection four times and successfully garnered support from both white and African American communities as the city’s political power shifted.
While Connick enjoyed a long and undefeated career as district attorney, his legacy was marred by allegations of evidence withholding by his office. This issue came to the forefront in a 2011 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case of John Thompson, who was exonerated after spending 14 years on death row for a crime he did not commit. The ruling overturned a $14 million award for Thompson, with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg criticizing Connick’s office for its “deliberately indifferent attitude.”
The controversy resurfaced in 2014 when Reginald Adams had his murder conviction overturned after 34 years in prison. Attorneys for the Innocence Project New Orleans presented evidence that critical information had been withheld in Adams’ case. Adams later received a $1.25 million settlement.
Connick repeatedly declined to comment on these cases but defended his overall record in a 2012 interview, stating that his reputation should be based on his entire body of work rather than individual cases.
A Remarkable Life
Born on March 27, 1926, in Mobile, Alabama, Connick moved to New Orleans at the age of 2. He served in the Navy during World War II and eventually became a prominent figure in the city’s political scene. Connick’s passion for music also played a significant role in his life, as he nurtured his son Harry Connick Jr.’s talent as a jazz piano prodigy.
Throughout his career, Connick cracked down on prostitution, used morality laws to close adult book shops in the French Quarter, and advocated for the death penalty in most first-degree murder cases. He even faced his own legal challenges when he was indicted for racketeering and aiding a sports-betting operation. However, Connick was acquitted and went on to win his fourth election the same year.
After retiring in 2003, Connick continued to perform at weekly gigs in French Quarter nightclubs, singing standards made famous by Frank Sinatra and other legends. His music not only entertained but also fostered relationships with Black musicians and voters, which was crucial for a white candidate in a city where the majority of voters were African Americans.
Remembering Harry Connick Sr.
New Orleans’ current district attorney, Jason Williams, expressed his condolences to Connick’s family, acknowledging Connick’s long tenure and the sacrifices made by him and his loved ones in serving the community.
Funeral arrangements for Connick are currently pending, as the city mourns the loss of a prominent figure in its legal and political history.
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– Former New Orleans District Attorney Harry Connick Sr. death
– Harry Connick Sr. passes away at age 97.
