Consolidation of Orleans Parish Courts

    Changes Facing the Court System Affect Everyone

 

Legislature Delays Consolidation in June 2008

• Legislature votes to Delay Orleans Court Consolidation until 2014 on June 23, 2008
• Senate Bill 166 Sponsored by Senator Edwin R. Murray

Background Information

• History of the Post-Katrina Court Consolidation Issue
• Act 621 Consolidating Orleans Civil & Criminal Courts, 2006
• Summary of Act 621 Consolidating Orleans Courts
• Power Point Presentation on Court Consolidation, December 2007
• NOBA's Resolution Supporting Judicial Council Study of Consolidation, April 16, 2006
• Initial Timeline for Consolidation

Lawsuit Resulting from Act 621 Raises Constitutional Issues

• Petition for Declaratory Judgment and Permanent Injunctive Relief, December 21 , 2007
• First Amended Petition for Declaratory Judgment and Permanent Injunctive Relief, April 4, 2008
• Judgment Granting Preliminary Injunction, May 13, 2008
  • La. Constitution, Article 5, Section 15(B)
  • La. Constitution, Article 5, Section 32
• Transcript of the Court Proceedings in Front of Judge Shortess, May 13, 2008
• Amended and Restated Judgment, May 15, 2008
• Times-Picayune Article "Judge Blocks Merger of N.O. Courts", May 13, 2008
• State's Brief on Appeal From May 13 & !5, 2008 Judgments Granting Injunction
• LASC Per Curiam Remanding the Act 621 Challenge, September 19, 2008

 

Relevant Study Concluded Dilemma is Adequate Funding, Not Separate Courts       

The last study undertaken to study our court system was the 1993 Commission to Study the Orleans Parish Judicial System (Landrieu Commission), which reached the conclusion that the separate courts are not the dilemma. The dilemma is adequate funding for the courts. The Commission found that the merger of the civil and criminal courts would be ineffective, but did call for the merger of city courts and the abolishment of parochial offices, transferring those functions to the civil clerk.

The Landrieu Commission's 1993 Study of Orleans Parish Judicial System is still relevant to today's issues. The findings of the study begin on page 14.