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| Poor inmates without lawyers may be freed |
| By United Press International |
| Published: 04/10/2006 |
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A New Orleans judge threatens to free indigent inmates if lawmakers do not provide funds to pay public defenders, ensuring their constitutional rights. About 85 percent of criminal defendants in New Orleans are represented by public defenders, but fewer than 10 of the 42 public defenders employed before Katrina are still in place. No jury trials have been held since August. A report released last month by a New Orleans-based advocacy group found that of 83 pre-trial inmates locked up before Aug. 29, only four had even met with an attorney, the New Orleans Times Picayune reported. Judge Arthur Hunter ordered District Attorney Eddie Jordan's office and the public defender's office to compile a list of poor pre-trial defendants, with details of each case, for his review. Once that is complete, he will begin releasing inmates if the state does not deliver proper financing, Hunter said. Gov. Kathleen Blanco has proposed doubling state funding for the public defender office in Orleans to $20 million, but neither the administration nor legislative leaders appear prepared to back bills that would dramatically change the system, the newspaper said. |
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