PETITION FOR REDRESS OF CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS AND IMMEDIATE RELEASE

I, Lazaar Chattin, respectfully submit this petition to expose and seek redress for the unlawful actions of Delaware’s judicial and correctional systems that have violated my constitutional rights and inflicted irreparable harm upon me and my family.

BACKGROUND

I have been incarcerated for over 17 years under an illegally enhanced sentence. My conviction was obtained through violations of my constitutional rights, including the denial of a fair trial and the imposition of punishment beyond what the law allowed.

During my first trial, one of the jurors did not even speak English, a blatant violation of my right to an impartial jury. Despite this, the court forced me to endure a second trial. The prosecution relied on weak and unsubstantiated evidence, and I was denied the opportunity to properly confront my accusers. Instead of being judged on the merits of the case, I was subjected to retaliatory and unlawful sentencing practicesthat Delaware courts have used for decades.

I am not the same man I was when I entered prison. Over these 17 years, I have grown into an intelligent, talented writer and musician, and I have worked tirelessly to better myself. Yet I remain imprisoned under a sentence that is unconstitutional on its face.

CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS

1. Fourth Amendment – Reliance on unlawfully obtained or insufficient evidence.
2. Fifth Amendment – Denial of due process, illegal sentencing enhancement, and coercion through prosecutorial misconduct.
3. Sixth Amendment – Denial of fair trial: biased jury, inability to confront accusers, and ineffective representation.
4. Eighth Amendment – Continued incarceration under unconstitutional conditions, despite evidence of rehabilitation.
5. First Amendment – Retaliation for raising issues about unlawful sentencing practices and systemic abuses.
6. Fourteenth Amendment – Equal protection and due process violations through illegal sentence enhancements, directly contrary to Apprendi v. New Jersey (2000) and reaffirmed in Paul Erlinger v. United States (2024).
SYSTEMIC PATTERN OF ABUSE

Delaware courts have engaged in a decades-long practice of illegal sentence enhancements, ignoring binding U.S. Supreme Court precedent. Over 100 inmates, including myself, have filed challenges after Erlinger, yet the courts continue to stall, conceal, and deny relief.

When inmates speak out, we face retaliation: transfers, fabricated disciplinary charges, and restrictions on family contact. These are deliberate acts to silence those exposing corruption and constitutional violations.

RELIEF REQUESTED

I respectfully petition for:

1. Immediate release from custody, as my sentence is unlawful and unconstitutional.
2. Recognition that my conviction was tainted by a biased jury and prosecutorial misconduct, rendering my trial fundamentally unfair.
3. Formal acknowledgment that Delaware’s use of unlawful sentence enhancements violates the U.S. Constitution.
4. Protection from retaliation for exercising my First Amendment rights.
5. Oversight and reform of sentencing and correctional practices in Delaware to prevent further abuses.

My incarceration is not only a personal injustice but also a reflection of a systemic crisis in Delaware’s courts and prisons. The Constitution guarantees protection from such abuse. I now petition for my immediate release, the restoration of my rights, and accountability for those who have perpetuated these violations—not only for myself, but for the many others still trapped under unconstitutional sentences.

Respectfully submitted,
Lazaar Chattin

Case site for reference:

https://courts.delaware.gov/opinions/download.aspx?ID=167580