Letters: Legislature needs to slow down and get the facts before changing N.O. courts
Source: The Times-Picayune | NOLA.con
May 15, 2026
We are advocates of a fair and competent judicial system accessible to all. We join requests to slow down the Louisiana Legislature’s rushed effort to consolidate New Orleans courts and reduce the number of judges, an effort driven by unsupported statements and inadequate data rather than sound policy, to obtain and consider a fair study of the real circumstances in our courts before voting on the proposal.
Our position aligns with a report released on April 19 by the Bureau of Governmental Research. That report advised that “insufficient analysis of the current bills raises serious concerns about the potential impacts on the Orleans Parish justice system and public safety” and urged the Legislature to slow the process to avoid underinformed decisions causing more harm than good. Eliminating judges only in New Orleans based on incomplete data risks delaying justice by cutting too many judges in some courts, slowing access to justice. In addition, the bills risk costing more by not researching the true costs of combining the courts. No fiscal note estimating potential savings has been provided. And the BGR reports that “many of the potential financial benefits of consolidation” may be achieved by simply sharing revenues, a more efficient solution.
The Legislature asks Louisiana to make consequential changes to the justice system based on incomplete analysis, unsupported projections and political urgency, not facts. That is not how sound policy is made. Justice demands fairness and a full accounting of the facts. In short, we urge the Legislature to wait to analyze all relevant facts. As the BGR report recommends, “Wait for the full study. The Supreme Court must complete a comprehensive analysis, including court visits and supplemental research, before any judgeships are eliminated.”
JUDY Y. BARRASSO
NOBA president, 2015-2016
KIM M. BOYLE
NOBA president, 2002-2003
JUDY PERRY MARTINEZ
ABA president, 2019-2020
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