Sajid Khan, a Santa Clara County deputy public defender and criminal justice reform advocate, is running for county district attorney, he announced at a San Jose rally on Sunday. He is challenging Jeff Rosen, who has held the position since 2011.
Khan said in an announcement that he would run as a "true progressive" and would focus on rooting out systemic racism, shrinking mass criminalization and addressing the root causes of crime. He has been a public defender serving Santa Clara County for 13 years and has fought for people's constitutional rights and against systemic racism and mass incarceration, according to the announcement.
He was born in San Jose to Muslim immigrants from Madras, India. His mother worked as a laboratory scientist at O'Connor Hospital in San Jose and his late father was a physicist in the semiconductor industry who established a mosque and later a school, both in Santa Clara.
Retired Santa Clara County Judge LaDoris Cordell and the Real Justice PAC announced they are endorsing Khan at the San Jose rally. Real Justice PAC works to elect reform-minded prosecutors and focuses on ending discriminatory policing, eliminating money bail and rolling back practices leading to mass incarceration.
On Thursday, Rosen announced his reelection campaign, an effort that has collected more than $450,000 in donations in its first three months. Rosen has received endorsements from over 60 elected officials in the county, hundreds of community leaders, criminal justice reformers and law enforcement leadership, according to a press release.
Comments
Registered user
Greenmeadow
on Jul 12, 2021 at 10:21 am
Registered user
on Jul 12, 2021 at 10:21 am
I like having term limits for all political positions, even the District Attorney position. During the last year, we've all watched progressives around the country. As a voter, I'm not ready for his type of change. The police are a reflection of our community, but after watching several cities with "progressive" DA's I will stay with what we have.
Registered user
Menlo Park
on Jul 12, 2021 at 11:52 am
Registered user
on Jul 12, 2021 at 11:52 am
Khan sounds like a good candidate for SC County DA.
As a former public defender, he won't kow-tow to the various police departments who have now come under fire for questionable tactics and practices.
It's time to take the guns out of the cop's hands if they cannot act responsibly with them.
Registered user
Crescent Park
on Jul 12, 2021 at 12:54 pm
Registered user
on Jul 12, 2021 at 12:54 pm
Oh wow, an endorsement from Judge LaDoris Cordell is a big get. And I approve of having public defenders at higher levels of the criminal justice system! I look forward to seeing this campaign unfold!
Registered user
another community
on Jul 12, 2021 at 2:52 pm
Registered user
on Jul 12, 2021 at 2:52 pm
If various police officers and their respective departments have an issue or problem with a prospective DA who is well familiar with their underhanded tactics, lies, and embellishments, perhaps they should all QUIT and find another profession.
Fat chance.
Registered user
Old Palo Alto
on Jul 12, 2021 at 4:58 pm
Registered user
on Jul 12, 2021 at 4:58 pm
Oh, please. Another Social Justice Warrior Progressive who wants to "reform" the police (progressive speak for defund), root out non-existent systemic racism, eliminate bail and make it easier for criminals to do what they do by minimizing incarceration. You can look north to San Francisco to see the disastrous effects of a progressive liberal DA. No thanks. I'm not a big fan of Rosen, but he'll get my vote.
Registered user
Portola Valley
on Jul 13, 2021 at 9:47 am
Registered user
on Jul 13, 2021 at 9:47 am
Jail and prison populations could be reduced dramatically by only incarcerating those convicted of violent or predatory felonies.
Drug and alcohol related infractions, along with petty theft (not robberies), and outstanding bench warrants for minor traffic violations can easily be handled with lesser measures like house arrest/incarceration.
And homeless loitering arrests/incarcerations with additional homeless shelters.
Registered user
Midtown
on Jul 13, 2021 at 4:59 pm
Registered user
on Jul 13, 2021 at 4:59 pm
I really hope he isn’t going to be another Chesa Boudin.
The root cause of crime? I have a feeling Mr. Khan will point to poverty, lack of “ opportunities” and low level of education as the MAIN factors for criminality… rather than perhaps… decaying moral values in our society?
Registered user
Downtown North
on Jul 13, 2021 at 10:09 pm
Registered user
on Jul 13, 2021 at 10:09 pm
Is he being funded by George Soros, too? Because we don't need a member of that cabal here in Santa Clara County. They (Krasner, Boudin, etc) somehow think saying that crime isn't as bad as it used to be is some kind of justification for being soft on crime now. It's a cynical, almost psychopathic callousness that has no place in a modern society. And all their incantations about "justice reform" won't change the fact that real victims suffer real mental and physical harm, and perpetrators need to be removed from society. It's a basic human right not to be victimized by crime.
Registered user
Ventura
on Jul 14, 2021 at 10:07 am
Registered user
on Jul 14, 2021 at 10:07 am
For those who have never spent time at Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas there are three categories of inmates...the general population, violent offenders, and the psychos.
The general population is a mixed bag of those awaiting trial for various misdemeanors and non-violent felonies.
The violent offenders and psychos are isolated from the general jail population and housed in a separate facility with heightened security.
The inmates are also 'color coded' by their jail garb. The general population are assigned 'retro' horizontal black/white striped attire while the violent offenders wear burgundy colored 'scrubs'. The psychos are assigned green scrubs.
During the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, many inmates being held in general population were released on their own recognizance to help reduce the spread of coronavirus among inmates living in close proximity of one another.
The violent offenders and psychos are not released into the public so there should be no cause for any immediate concern.
On the other hand...those convicted of DUIs, grand theft auto, non-violent burglaries & thefts, urination in public, and loitering are not considered dangers to society.
Hopefully the new DA will take these considerations under advisement as the food and medical services in county jail are subpar and most inmates can usually do better if on their own.
Registered user
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jul 14, 2021 at 10:46 am
Registered user
on Jul 14, 2021 at 10:46 am
I got tossed into Elmwood because of a Failure to Appear bench warrant issued after I did not show up in traffic court to contest a DUI arrest.
And I had to spend a week there because at my arraignment, the judge would not release me on my own recognizance.
When I explained that I had forgotten about the court date, he was very unsympathetic and I was then remanded to six more days of lousy food and a less than stellar living arrangement pending trial.
The guards are bullies and act as if they own the place...a very challenging adjustment when you are a college-educated professional who drives a car worth more than their home.
Nevertheless I learned my lesson and now take a cab if I plan to be out drinking and doing blow.
Registered user
another community
on Aug 13, 2021 at 12:04 pm
Registered user
on Aug 13, 2021 at 12:04 pm
Mr. Kahn is all talk. He has the platform to help me with my criminal case. My ex's attorney is using the criminal courts to sex traffic my children. I filled in Mr. Kahn with all the details. The abuse is obvious.
He speaks out about all the injustices, but when he has something that is right in front of him, he shies away. We need a District Attorney who walks the walk. We need one who doesn't prioritize the politics of his actions.
Registered user
another community
on Aug 13, 2021 at 12:14 pm
Registered user
on Aug 13, 2021 at 12:14 pm
[Post removed.]
Registered user
Crescent Park
on Aug 13, 2021 at 4:00 pm
Registered user
on Aug 13, 2021 at 4:00 pm
[Post removed.]
Registered user
another community
on Aug 13, 2021 at 4:07 pm
Registered user
on Aug 13, 2021 at 4:07 pm
[Post removed.]
Registered user
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Aug 13, 2021 at 4:22 pm
Registered user
on Aug 13, 2021 at 4:22 pm
So Mr. Kahn believes that society ills must be remedied in order to fight crime. Well good luck with that. My prescription is more of the iron fist approach, bring back the death penalty and expand it to most crimes, We don't need to be feeding a bunch of crooks at tax payer's expense. Also do it in public-like they used to do in England in the early 19th century, every crime was punished by hanging and it was liberally applied and very public. The corpse left in place and sometimes tarred in order to last until it fell apart.
Just think of some of these gang-bangers, wearing their pants around just the top of their legs, firing into crowds of neighborhood kids and killing a few cause they showed some possible disrespect for these imperial rulers of the neighborhood. The prospect of swinging from a high bar and doing a hangman's jig in front of everyone might make them think twice.
At the very least it would reduce recidivism by a 100 %.
Registered user
another community
on Aug 13, 2021 at 4:31 pm
Registered user
on Aug 13, 2021 at 4:31 pm
[Post removed.]
Registered user
Old Palo Alto
on Aug 13, 2021 at 5:56 pm
Registered user
on Aug 13, 2021 at 5:56 pm
The last thing that Santa Clara County needs is someone like Chesea Boudin, who's made a mess of San Francisco.
Registered user
another community
on Aug 14, 2021 at 6:08 pm
Registered user
on Aug 14, 2021 at 6:08 pm
To be fair to Mr. Kahn, the sex trafficking of my children through the criminal court was brought about by the current DA, Mr. Rosen. He is the one with the duty and the power to take the necessary actions in my case.
Registered user
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Aug 14, 2021 at 9:02 pm
Registered user
on Aug 14, 2021 at 9:02 pm
Mr. Rosen has a lousy record on sex trafficking and crimes against women.
I'm still furious at the way he treated the Apple employee who had VIDEO EVIDENCE of her foreign tech CEO husband REPEATEDLT beating her. His parents cheered him on while their young children watched.
Rosen charged that as a misdemeanor wrist-slap so he didn't have to deport him.
Registered user
another community
on Aug 15, 2021 at 3:23 pm
Registered user
on Aug 15, 2021 at 3:23 pm
[Post removed.]