Orleans Parish voters will make some major decisions that could reform the beleaguered criminal justice system this fall.  

In addition to electing a new district attorney, three criminal court judge slots will be up for grabs.    

"I cannot remember a more high-stakes election," said Clancy DuBos, WWL-TV Political Anaylst.

"We've got a quarter of the court that has left and is not coming back for re-election,” said Rafael Goyeneche of the Metropolitan Crime Commission. “(They are) some of the most experienced members of the judiciary, some of the most effective and experienced members of the judiciary."

Criminal court judges can let suspected criminals out on bond and their decisions can make or break a case.

Current District Attorney Keva Landrum-Johnson wants to fill one of those seats on the bench and voters will have to choose a new top prosecutor.

"In the DA's race, it's basically a do over from when Harry Connick resigned six and a half years ago," DuBos said.

So far, four people are vying for the job: Criminal Defense attorney and former prosecutor Ralph Capitelli, former appellate court judge Leon Canizzaro, former federal prosecutor Linda Bizzaro and defense attorney Jason Williams.

"Every one of them is an excellent lawyer,” DuBos said. “The question is, how good of a prosecutor will they be? And how good of a manger? Because the truth is, most DA's don't go into court and try cases by themselves."       

Two of the candidates are already raising and spending big dollars in the race.

Capitelli and Cannizzaro are already running television ads, even though the primary is four months away.

Williams is the only African-American in the race so far and he is not as well known or as well financed as the others. DuBos thinks he could eventually have some company.

"I would be very surprised if Jason Williams were the only African American candidate running for DA this fall,” DuBos said.

"If we're truly serious about improving public safety and the criminal justice system, then we need to focus on who the next DA is gonna be and who our next round of judges are gonna be," Goyeneche said.