BATON ROUGE, La.-- Louisiana needs to overhaul its system of legal defense for poor people in the courtroom, the House voted on Wednesday, after years of criticism that the current system is unfair and unconstitutional.

The House voted 99-1 to approve a bill by Rep. Danny Martiny, R-Kenner, that would create a new state board to take responsibility for the state's local indigent defender offices, which are now overseen by 41 local boards around the state.

Critics have complained from a variety of fronts about the current system, saying in particular that the offices operate independently, with little oversight or record-keeping. The state Supreme Court, in particular, has criticized the Legislature for failing to correct the problem.

Martiny, chair of the House Criminal Justice Committee, sponsored the bill after years of study and cooperation with public defenders, district attorneys and others involved in the criminal courts.

"It is our obligation to provide a fair environment, the appropriate legal representation in these cases," said Rep. Joe Toomy, R-Gretna. "I think this legislation goes a long way to improve not only the effectiveness but the efficiency and the accountability in this system."

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)