Find a Better Route to Justice


    Jan. 14, 2007
    Times-Picayune
    Editorial

    Re: "Public defender office leader jailed," Metro, Jan. 10.

    Holding public defenders in contempt of court for their inability to be in multiple courtrooms at the same time highlights an enormous problem with the Louisiana justice system -- the gross under-funding of the indigent defense system -- but does nothing to solve it.

    The pervasive problems within the state's indigent defense system are not new, and they certainly are not the fault of one public defender.

    Louisiana has long ignored its constitutional obligation to provide qualified, well-resourced legal counsel for those who cannot afford private attorneys.

    The state has had years to fix the system and has chosen to do nothing.

    This legislative inaction has left the citizens of Louisiana without a functioning justice system and forced the state to instead spend its money defending numerous lawsuits over the failed system.

    If the Louisiana legislature does not act soon, the problems will only escalate as will the resulting litigation, and Louisiana will face a full-blown crisis.

    Martin S. Pinales

    President
    National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
    Washington, D.C.



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