Sitting in the casual conference area of his personal office, the new D.A.
Look, the system is broken.
The system I came into just wasnt working.
Newly sworn in L.A D.A. Nathan Hochman speaks outside of the Hall of Justice on December 3, 2024.
This office wasnt working.
DEADLINE:How so?
HOCHMAN:It lost 20% of its workforce in recent years.
DEADLINE:I hear you with that, but thats inside baseball to most.
Then what do you, and I mean you, what do you do about that?
DEADLINE: Which is what?
Im telling you I reject that, I reject both extremes.
I reject extreme policies.
I come down in the middle.
Blanket policies are inherently reckless and lazy.
The middle requires you look at each case, individually.
Thats what Im going to do.
DEADLINE:Lets talk about a big individual case on your desk: the Menendez brothers.
HOCHMAN:I knew this was coming … HOCHMAN:First of all, the courtesy by Judge Jesic is much appreciated, much appreciated.
We have begun the process.
I have begun the process.
DEADLINE: What has that entailed?
Were looking at the law dealing with resentencing as well as the law dealing with the habeas situation.
Do you know the difference?
DEADLINE:I do.
HOCHMAN:Theyre different.
You know, there can be different results depending on which way the law actually plays out.
Ill make the same offer to any victim family member if they want a personal audience with me.
HOCHMAN:That I dont know one or the other.
Youll have to talk to my predecessor about that.
But heres where I like the attention.
HOCHMAN:Initial challenges is getting the two main drivers of criminal justice and enforcement, back on track.
Thats my own office.
Thats almost unheard of.
To me, the mission of the DA is to maximize the greatest asset, which is that.
So, I basically said: look, I have your back.
You need training, you need resources, you need credit for the good work youve been doing.
I can deliver on all that.
Whats your perspective on that historical curve theory?
I think it did.
They make it seem like it never happened.
I know for a fact it did.
The media is in search of simple narratives, conflicting narratives, and so it adopted the Geragos narrative.
Which was very smart, very creative.
Its basically that the trial was all about sexual abuse, that their response was because of sexual abuse.
What makes it a little bit more complicated?
And thats why the media would have to do additional work.
No offense to your profession.
Why they got to that point?
How they got to the point is irrelevant for the trial.
For the convictions, maybe not irrelevant.
By the way, certainly for resentencing, and it actually plays a different role in resentencing.
He was even able to testify about sexual abuse that Lyle experienced.
All that was presented to the jury, and the jury still convicted them both of first-degree murder.
DEADLINE:Heading towards next months resentencing hearing, what are you preparing right now?
You now are entering in the concept of rehabilitation and the interests of Justice on top of that.
Here are your options.
And confirm that whatever decision is ultimately made is the best-informed decision possible.
So, my question is what will your office do if you have to face another Weinstein trial?
HOCHMAN:Again, I come from the world of doing the work in every case.
So, even if something gets media attention, certainly were going to ensure that we get that right.
But were going to ensure we get it right, even if theres no media attention.
DEADLINE:Point taken.
HOCHMAN:But if they reversed it based on saying that, Ill just make up a number.
Two will be let in.
Lets say theyre requiring a new trial, assuming we then proceed to trial and theres no settlement.
What do you say to those in this county who see a D.A.
HOCHMAN:Heres what those people should know.
They first should know a little history.
History is a scarce resource on peoples consideration.
But we dont have to go back that far.
Ill go seven years, 2017.
The California Value Act, SB54 is a sanctuary state legislation.
Its almost symbolic now.
Now, now were going to go into a little bit more ancient history.
That provision is 40-plus years old at this point.
So, the fears that people have, I get it.
I dont need to go beyond that statement.
Theyve already been attacked here.
The Ninth Circuit has already weighed in.
Hochman are you running for Governor in 2026?
So, no, I absolutely tell you I am not running for that job.
