Philadelphia's legal scene marks the end of an era as First Assistant District Attorney Robert Listenbee steps down from his role. In a statement released last Friday and obtained by the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, District Attorney Larry Krasner praised Listenbee's profound impact and legacy, highlighting his ascent from "a poor kid from Michigan" to an esteemed figure in juvenile justice reform. "There are no bigger shoes to fill than that of First Assistant District Attorney Robert Listenbee, who has left nothing short of a legacy here at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and throughout his distinguished career," Krasner said.
Listenbee's career, spanning decades of service, is marked with notable achievements particularly in juvenile justice reforms. His leadership saw a public health-driven, trauma-informed turn in policies which endeavored to treat child offenders within the juvenile system rather than as adults, with a substantial reduction in youth residential placements. Efforts made under his guidance also included the expansion of youth diversion programs and improved opportunities for restorative justice practice. Listenbee also oversaw the DAO's Victim Support Services Division leading the development of CARES, a support program for families of murder victims.
Before his appointment at the District Attorney’s Office in March of 2018, Listenbee contributed valuably as a Stoneleigh Visiting Fellow and Director of Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Initiatives, where he endeavored to improve policies and support services for vulnerable youth in Philadelphia. His tenure as Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, initiated by President Barack Obama, was characterized by advocacy to halt youth violence, dismantle the "school-to-prison pipeline", and the promotion of equitable treatment for minority and LGBTQ-GNC youth in the justice system, as detailed by the same press release.
A Harvard University alumnus and former Chief of the Defender Association of Philadelphia’s Juvenile Unit, Listenbee is recognized as a stalwart in legal defense circles. His efforts have not gone unnoticed, as seen from a multitude of awards over his career, including the prestigious W. E. B. Du Bois Medal from Harvard for his role in the founding of the Department of African and African American Studies, albeit when he was serving as part of a student committee. Listenbee's time with the Defender Association saw him serve for an impressive stretch of 27 years, from 1986 to 2013, where his juvenile defense strategies have been held as a national model.
The DA's office has not yet announced a successor, but the vacancy left by Listenbee will indeed be a challenging role to fill, considering his contributions and the pace of reforms seen during his time.
