The Court heard arguments in the case of Connick v. Thompson, in which former New Orleans district attorney Harry Connick argues that his office should not be held liable for what he contends was a single incident of failing to hand over exculpatory evidence to the defense before trial.
Louisiana appellate chief Stuart Duncan, arguing against liability, acknowledged that defendant John Thompson has suffered “terrible injuries” because of the actions of a lawyer in the prosecutor’s office, but insisted that Supreme Court precedent does not allow Thompson to recover damages in a civil rights suit when no pattern of misconduct has been shown.
