Joe Sexton

Senior Editor

Photo of Joe Sexton

Joe Sexton was a senior editor at ProPublica. Before coming to ProPublica in 2013, he had worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor at The New York Times. Sexton served as metropolitan editor at the Times from 2006 to 2011, and his staff won two Pulitzer Prizes, including the award for breaking news for its coverage of Eliot Spitzer’s downfall. From 2011 to 2013, Sexton served as the paper's sports editor, overseeing its coverage of the 2012 Summer Games in London and the Penn State scandal, among other major stories. The department under Sexton won a wide array of awards for its photography, art design and innovative online presentations. As a reporter, Sexton covered sports, politics, crime and the historic overhaul of the country's welfare legislation. His work was anthologized in The Best American Sportswriting (Houghton/Mifflin). Sexton is a lifelong resident of Brooklyn and the father of four daughters.

Decades Later, a Routine Police Record Hangs Over Patz Murder Trial

The prosecution says Pedro Hernandez fled New York after killing Etan Patz. A detectives report from 1979 suggests that might not be so.

Newly Discovered Evidence is Latest Surprise in Patz Case

Defense lawyers question whether mistrial is warranted after lost evidence surfaces in case of missing boy.

Judge in Patz Case Forced to Justify Secrecy Decisions

News organizations ask New York appellate court to force judge to unseal hearings on evidence and jurors in famous missing child case.

True or False, the Power of Confessions is Great

The Etan Patz murder trial is the latest test case for measuring the power of a confession, whether or not it's actually true.

Can You Judge Etan Patz’s Accused Killer Fairly? Here Are 109 Questions to Start

Potential jurors in the controversial missing-child case have to disclose mental health and drug histories.

Expert: Unlikely That Suspect in Patz Case Understood His Rights Before Confessing

A defense witness testifies Pedro Hernandez possesses such limited intelligence that he could not have responsibly waived his right to silence during interrogation.

How Detectives Coaxed Suspect in Etan Patz Murder to Confess

Pedro Hernandez, a man with an IQ of 70 and history of mental illness, confessed to strangling a 6-year-old boy after investigators appealed to his religious faith.

Confession of Etan Patz's Accused Killer Finally Aired in Court

Pedro Hernandez confessed two years ago to killing the 6-year-old. Now a judge will decide whether it's admissible.

In Patz Case, a Critical Moment in Court at Last

After more than 800 days behind bars, the man accused of killing Etan Patz will have his confession evaluated by a judge.

Paying Jabbar Collins $10 Million Doesn’t Address Problems With Prosecutors

A wrongly convicted Brooklyn man will receive millions in compensation from New York City, but that doesn’t address the broader lack of consequences when prosecutors abuse their power.

Startling Sidebar: Brooklyn Judge Gave Political Advice to Borough’s Top Prosecutor

A New York City Department of Investigation report documents a shocking coziness between the two top law enforcement officials in Brooklyn.

Plenty of Misconduct, and 129 Pages of One Judge’s Disbelief

The judge who overturned the convictions in the Danziger Bridge case found what he called dark and disturbing incidents of misconduct by prosecutors.

For Brooklyn Prosecutor, a Rare Reversal at the Polls

Prosecutors in New York tend to get elected and stay elected, often for decades. The career of Charles Hynes in Brooklyn invites the question: How long is too long?

Workers Win $2 Million Settlement From Assisted Living Giant

Emeritus Senior Living, the country’s largest assisted living company, has agreed to pay as much as $2.2 million to settle a suit that the company routinely underpaid workers.

Less Than Total Recall

A prominent Brooklyn prosecutor, forced to testify under oath about allegations that he had railroaded a possibly innocent man in a murder case 18 years ago, said he had trouble remembering much about the case.

Problem Witness: A Case to Make Prosecutors Personally Accountable

Alexina Simon was picked up as a witness in a minor criminal case. Prosecutors in Queens held her over two days without a lawyer. Now, she wants to make them pay for what she says was misconduct.

Ex-Prosecutor Won’t be Watching 'Brooklyn DA'

Robert Reuland lost his job in the Brooklyn DA's office in an episode that might have made for a lively installment in the new CBS series. Reuland, who got in trouble for his too frank comments on Brooklyn’s rate of killings, now defends accused murderers in Brooklyn.

Capitol Offenses: Bribes, Wires, and Little Surprise

Stephen Spielberg’s “Lincoln,” even has a crack about Albany corruption. Can it really go that far back? Herewith, a spin through some recent lowlights, which suggests not much has changed in a century or two.

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