Katherine Ernst: Krasner's actions make it "impossible" to keep representing the Commonwealth
Katherine ErnstAssistant district attorney, Philadelphia District Attorney's Office (resigned October 6, 2026; message co-signed with Steven Wildberger)
In a message co-signed with Steven Wildberger, Ernst told Krasner that his actions made it impossible for them to keep representing the Commonwealth. Both resigned from his office late on Tuesday, October 6.
Responding to
Krasner and Stiegler pressured Conviction Integrity Unit prosecutors to blame a departed colleague for errors and to present a false narrative to the court about the DAO's internal handling of Dennis Johnson's habeas petition -- conduct that "is tantamount to a prima facie showing" of false statements, false declarations under oath, perjury, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy.
“Your actions make it impossible for us to continue to represent the Commonwealth”
Reporting
Other statements by Katherine Ernst in this case
- Katherine Ernst: Krasner "wanted to deflect blame from Stiegler"Same day: Condemned
Where this statement fits
Did Larry Krasner Pressure Staff to Mislead a Federal Judge About a Murder-Conviction Appeal?
A federal judge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania found that Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and Matthew Stiegler, chief of his office's Conviction Integrity Unit, may have pressured subordinate prosecutors to blame a departed colleague and present a false account to the court about an internal dispute over a 2022 concession in a habeas corpus case, and referred Krasner, Stiegler, and the District Attorney's Office to the U.S. Attorney's Office for investigation. Krasner disputes the judge's findings and says he will appeal.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Original reporting on Katherine Ernst and Steven Wildberger resigning late October 6 after Krasner declined their requested changes to filings.
Before the quotation
Quoted by the Philadelphia Inquirer on October 7 from what Ernst and Wildberger wrote to Krasner. The report describes a letter they sent him on Monday, October 5, asking him to correct his court filings, and attributes the words to both without saying which message they come from.
After the quotation
Their resignations took effect late on October 6, and each declined to comment further the next day. Krasner declined to change his filings, saying in an email reply to their memo that his recollections were accurate, and accused them of insubordination.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Ernst says Krasner's own conduct, including how his court filings described her and Wildberger, left them unable to keep working for the office. That criticizes Krasner's conduct in the matter the case examines, so the label is condemns.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Larry Krasner
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- The Dispute Index
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- Katherine Ernst: Krasner's actions make it "impossible" to keep representing the Commonwealth
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- https://disputeindex.com/events/5624-in-a-message-co-signed-with-steven-wildberger
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Katherine Ernst: Krasner's actions make it "impossible" to keep representing the Commonwealth". First published: 2026-10-12. Last updated: 2026-10-12. https://disputeindex.com/events/5624-in-a-message-co-signed-with-steven-wildberger