Early last month, Philadelphia defense attorney Teri Himebaugh, who focuses on post-conviction appeals, emailed more than 20 colleagues, asking if they had any cases involving two homicide detectives who may have engaged in a “pattern and practice” of unconstitutional interrogation techniques that could affect numerous cases in Philadelphia.

The request was not unusual, but according to Himebaugh, the discussions she’s been having with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office have been. Himebaugh said the office, which just finished up its first year under criminal justice reformer Larry Krasner, has been much more receptive to claims alleging patterns of allegedly unconstitutional behavior, and seemingly much more willing to vet those claims.