Katrina Cripples New Orleans Court System

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051029/ap_on_re_us/katrina_crippled_courts_2

NEW ORLEANS - In his third day back on the bench since Hurricane Katrina struck two months ago, Criminal District Judge Benedict Willard opens court by entering a plea of his own — for patience.

"We're going to do as much as we can, with the limited resources," Willard says of this battered city's struggle to resuscitate a justice system crippled by the monster storm.

With the criminal courthouse still mired in muck, Willard presides at the old parish jail in a room once used for witnesses to identify criminal suspects in lineups. One-inch hash marks for measuring height dot the wall behind his small office desk. Attorneys sit in folding chairs.

Two defense lawyers for men jailed on drug charges before the storm ask for reduced bail and to see evidence against their clients. But the lawyers don't know which jails now hold the evacuated, absent defendants. And evidence rooms in the courthouse remain a swampy mess.





Tagged guns line the wall and debris is scattered on the floor in an evidence room at Orleans Parish District criminal courthouse, which was flooded during Hurricane Katrina, in New Orleans, La., Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2005. Katrina's waters swamped evidence rooms, created a diaspora of defendants and witnesses, kept misdemeanor criminals locked up for weeks instead of days and has put New Orleans' justice system on the brink of collapse. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

[uppityperson]

1. The aftermath of Katrina continues to be huge.

People, news media, keeps underestimating the aftermath of Katrina. This disaster has the potential to adversely affect many many things, stuff, money, etc all over our country for a long time.

On 1 hand I am amused at the lawyers demanding to see the evidence (how to get off is simple, just schedule your arrest right before a huge disaster). On the other hand, what a mess.

[bluestateguy]

2. This is a valuable lesson for Lousiana and the country

We put too many people in prison in this country. This will force Louisiana to set some priorities and re-evaluate their justice system. That means that the guy arrested for selling a little bag of marijuana may have to be bypassed, as well as the guy who was caught stealing a television set during the hurricane. Instead, they'll have to stick with the violent criminals and worry about putting them away, as they should. If we didn't warehouse so many people in this country this would be much les of a problem.

[SouthernDem2004]

3. Huh?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

8. It's a novel concept called "common sense." (nt)

[TroubleMan]

9. Exactly.We imprison the highest percentage of our population in the world.

Our justice system is ridiculous, and mostly it's guilty until proven rich. If you've got money (and not famous), you'll get off. If you don't have money, you'll get convicted.

[TaleWgnDg]

4. This is a criminal defendant's dream come true !!!

.
The messed-up evidence will allow many criminal defendants to go free. Unreal. To re-threaten victims, property and the State. Absolutely unreal.

As a lawyer, myself, I view it as a cheap shot to allow any client to walk due to a hurricane that destroyed all documentary evidence. The client may think it's terrific but not us lawyers.

.

[High Plains]

5. An awful lot of New Orleans criminal defendants are drug...

offenders. I think I read 40% somewhere. I'm happy to see these guys walk. Interestingly, I see a report last week that NOPD Vice and Narcotics squad is raring to go, "hunt in packs," said the commander, "talk to your snitches." Funny, he doesn't have any jail to put 'em in or any prosecutors to try 'em, but he's ready to restart the war on drugs.

I saw an article in the City Journal, published by the conservative Manhattan Institute, where the author was recommending that New Orleans institute Rockefeller-style drug laws as part of its effort to rebuild. I think the city should go the other way: Quit arresting people for drug use. I mean, really, doesn't the New Orleans criminal justice system have better things to do?

[bluestateguy]

6. This is a chance for N.O. to re-evaluate its criminal justice system

Forget about the petty drug possessors, people driving with suspended driver's licenses, and people who didn't pay their parking tickets. Stay focused on the truly violent criminals. Rebuilding the city must take precedence.

[depakid]

7. Kinda begs a question though....

why wasn't the evidence kept in more secure locations?

It's not like this wasn't foreseeable-

[TroubleMan]

10. They're innocent until proven guilty.

That's the way it's SUPPOSED to be. If the government cannot prove it's case, that's not the defendant's fault.

You seem to make the assumption that they're guilty of what they have been charged with. That's not true until the case is proven in a court of law or the defendant pleads to guilty (or nolo contendere). If you can't prove it, then let them go. It's not only the lawful thing to do, it's the moral thing to do.