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☆ Harry Connick Sr., New Orleans D.A. Criticized for Overreach, Dies at 97
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Adam Nossiter | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Harry Connick Sr., a long-serving district attorney in New Orleans whose office gained national notoriety for prosecutorial overreach that eventually resulted in many reversed convictions, died on Thursday at his home in New Orleans. His death was announced by his son, the singer Harry Connick Jr., in a statement. The older Mr. Connick was a singer himself and became locally renowned for his nightclub performances in the French Quarter. But his national reputation as a district attorney was much darker, particularly after a 2011 dissent by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg that blasted the Orleans Parish district attorney’s office, under his leadership, for singular incompetence and misconduct. Justice Ginsburg found that Mr. Connick’s subordinates systematically hid evidence that could aid the defense, in violation of the Constitution.

Persons: Harry Connick Sr, prosecutorial, Harry Connick Jr, Connick, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Ginsburg, “, Mr Organizations: Supreme, Orleans Parish ” Locations: New Orleans, Orleans Parish

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Harry Connick Sr., who was New Orleans’ district attorney for three decades, after which he faced allegations that his staff sometimes held back evidence, died Thursday at age 97. Connick died peacefully at his home in New Orleans with his wife, Londa, and children — Suzanna and musician and actor Harry Connick Jr. — by his side, according to an obituary distributed by Harry Connick Jr.'s publicist. Connick dethroned an incumbent prosecutor, Jim Garrison, in a 1973 election. He won reelection four times, a white politician who successfully built biracial support as the city’s political power base shifted to African Americans. Connick remained undefeated, but in retirement he was dogged by questions about whether his office withheld evidence that favored defendants.

Persons: — Harry Connick Sr, Connick, Londa, — Suzanna, Harry Connick Jr, —, Jim Garrison, John Thompson, didn't Organizations: ORLEANS, New, Supreme, Associated Press Locations: New Orleans ’, New Orleans, U.S

☆ William Friedkin, ‘Exorcist’ director, dead at 87
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —William Friedkin, director of iconic 1970s films including “The French Connection” and “The Exorcist,” has died, his wife Sherry Lansing, the former CEO of Paramount Pictures, told The Hollywood Reporter on Monday. Friedkin won the Oscar for best director for “French Connection” in 1972, going on to be nominated for the same trophy again two years later for occult horror “Exorcist,” the genre-defying hit that racked up ten nominations and two statuettes. Curiously, Friedkin once told Cinephilia Beyond that his original intention wasn’t even to make a horror film with “The Exorcist.”“I recognize that audiences for generations have considered it a horror film,” he observed. “I won’t deny that, but when I set out to make it, the writer and I never had any concept of it as a horror film. He is survived by his wife, along with two sons, Jackson and Cedric Friedkin.

Persons: William Friedkin, ”, Sherry Lansing, Friedkin, Oscar, Friedkin’s, —, Al Pacino, Willem Dafoe, Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, Harry Connick Jr, Tommy Lee Jones, Samuel L, Jackson, Jade, David Caruso, Linda Fiorentino, Amort, Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Clarke, Jake Lacy, William Peter Blatty –, Ellen Burstyn, Cinephilia, Exorcist’s, Stanley Kubrick, Arthur Penn, Mike Nichols, ’ ” Friedkin, Jeanne Moreau, Lesley, Anne Down, Kelly Lange, Lansing, Cedric Friedkin Organizations: CNN, Paramount Pictures, Hollywood, NPR Locations: L.A, ”, French, British

☆ Josh Sills: Philadelphia Eagles lineman is acquitted on rape and kidnapping charges in Ohio
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Artemis Moshtaghian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A player for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles who was accused of raping and kidnapping a woman in 2019 has been acquitted of the charges, according to documents filed in Guernsey County Court in Ohio. Offensive lineman Josh Sills had been indicted by a grand jury on January 31 and was placed on the NFL’s commissioner exempt list, preventing him from practicing, playing or travel with the team. “We are aware that the legal matter involving Josh Sills has been adjudicated and he was found not guilty,” the team said. Sills’ lawyer, Michael Connick, said the acquittal “ends a nearly four-year nightmare for the Sills family, and particularly Josh,” according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. CNN has reached out to Sills’ legal representation for further comment.

Persons: Josh Sills, “, Sills ’, Michael Connick, Sills, Josh, ”, Dave Yost, ” Yost, ” Sills Organizations: CNN, NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, Guernsey County Court, Eagles, Philadelphia Inquirer, Oklahoma State Locations: Guernsey County, Ohio, America

Harris, the former American Idol contestant whose soulful voice wowed the judges and whose sweet demeanor won him legions of fans, has died of an apparent heart attack. Harris was an incredible talent, and the news of his passing deeply saddens us," a statement posted on American Idol's official Instagram page read. Harris told The Hollywood Reporter in a 2014 interview that his mother was his first musical influence. It wasn't until 2014 that Harris made his musical mark when he placed sixth in American Idol's 13th season. "You sing because you have to sing, not because you want to sing," Urban told Harris.

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