NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans public defender's office, swamped with felony cases, is stopping lawyers from accepting more defendants. It's a move that could see some people languishing in jail, much as happened after Hurricane Katrina wrecked the city's justice system.
The public defenders office has notified judges that they will stop some lawyers from accepting new cases. The conflict division of that office is going further, notifying judges they will not accept any more cases until their case load drops.
It's a situation that a criminal court judge calls critical, saying hundreds could soon be "trapped in prison" if something is not done.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro said his office will begin to implement a plan of moving non-violent misdemeanors to municipal court to ease the burden on the public defender's office.
Below is Cannizzaro's full statement:
“The people of New Orleans have spoken clearly. They want a more effective Criminal Justice System. For months, I have strongly advocated for reforms that will allow the system to employ its resources more efficiently and economically. If the judges of the Criminal District Court would adopt the proposed rule change to the allotment procedure, then cases could be moved through the system quicker and reduce the growing backlog.
"Furthermore, before the end of March, this office will implement its plan to move non-violent misdemeanors to Municipal Court. I believe that this will reduce the caseload on prosecutors and public defenders in Criminal District Court. The New Orleans Public Defenders’ Office is an integral component of our Criminal Justice System. If they are unable to accept new cases, then it will impede recent progress within that system. We must find ways to give the people of New Orleans the Criminal Justice System they deserve by stretching the available resources to aloe the system to remain fully functional.”
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