Wear that ball and chainOF THE shackled, jumpsuited defendants making their first appearance in the New Orleans criminal court, the first to rise in the dock was relatively fortunate. Up for possession of drugs, he was deemed indigent, and the city’s public defender was appointed to represent him. After a brisk back-and-forth of previous convictions and mitigating circumstances (a baby on the way, a job), bail was set at $5,000. The next man’s predicament was grimmer. Barely speaking English, he too was deemed indigent; but because his alleged offence—sexual battery—was more serious, the public defender reluctantly declined to represent him. Which means that, for the time being, no one will.
He is not alone. At the last count, 52 people were stuck in jail in New Orleans without representation; a further 27 lacked counsel but are out on bail. The problem is that, while these defendants can’t afford lawyers, the lawyers say that, after drastic budget cuts, a hiring freeze and a spate of resignations, they can’t afford to act for the defendants. In 2010 the public defender’s office of Orleans Parish (coterminous with...Continue reading
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