Apr. 22, 2026
DA improperly invoked defendant's Chilean origin in seeking conviction, judge rules
Orange County DA Todd Spitzer has been urging lawmakers to remove Chile from the visa waiver program, pointing to gangs who travel easily to the United States for the purposes of engaging in theft. This is the second time in recent weeks that a judge has found the Orange County District Attorney violated the Racial Justice Act.
An Orange County Superior Court judge ruled that District Attorney Todd Spitzer violated the California Racial Justice Act by improperly invoking a defendant's Chilean national origin to seek a conviction, marking the second time a judge has found Spitzer in violation of the 2021 law.
Judge Michael J. Cassidy found that a June 2024 news release detailing Jorge Navarretecorvalan's arrest violated the statute and ordered the parties to return to determine a remedy.
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