After blasting Orleans Parish judges for not being good, for not doing enough work and because there are too many judges in New Orleans, Gov. Jeff Landry had a choice: that would do what he promised he would do, or by vetoing the bill.
The guv said clearly and directly in March that he would push for the βright-sizingβ of the courts in New Orleans when he spoke during the Louisiana Legislatureβs opening session in March. He rallied Republicans legislators to the cause, identifying State Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, as the one who would carry the legislation to make it happen.
As originally proposed, Senate Bill 217 wouldβve cut the number of civil court judges, cut the number of criminal court judges, cut the number of municipal and traffic court judges and cut the number of juvenile court judges. New Orleans legislators werenβt consulted in advance, and they were angry.
As the bill moved through the legislative process, changes were made, as recently as Monday. The bill that passed the State House and the State Senate would cut no civil court judges; cut the number of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court judges from 12 to nine; cut the number of municipal and traffic court judges from seven to five; and cut the number of juvenile court judges from four to two. The number of juvenile court judges would be reduced over time as one judge then another leaves the bench through attrition. The municipal and traffic court judges would be go away as two judgeship terms expire at the end of the year.
The criminal court judge cut would happen as of Dec. 31, meaning three court sections would be eliminated. Just a few days ago, the three eliminated judges were to be newly-elected Judge John Fuller and judges Leon RochΓ© and Simone Levine.
Times-Picayune columnist Will Sutton on Thursday, September 12, 2019.
STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER
But something happened Monday. Fuller and Levine would be cut. But instead of RochΓ© being cut, Judge Rhonda Goode-Douglas would be cut. Morris said the switch-a-roo happened after conversations with the governorβs office and the New Orleans delegation. That didnβt sit well with Landry. βNobody called and asked me. If they would have, I wouldβve told them thatβs ridiculous,β Landry said Monday. βTheyβre taking the best judge off the bench.β
Goode-Douglas was stunned.
On WBOK Wednesday morning, she told me that she doesnβt intend to retire or step aside, and she still will run for a new term as criminal court judge, her seat if the bill doesnβt become law and someone elseβs seat if it does. Who told her why this has happened? βNo one can tell me,β she said. βTo have to now pit myself against somebody Iβve worked with the last six years is really not anything I look forward to having to do.β
Goode-Douglas was a prosecutor in New Orleans for 12 years, including time under former , before her time as a defense attorney, then her elevation to judge. She has more seniority than nearly all of the judges. Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill havenβt been friendly to Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams lately. The governor went after Orleans Parish Criminal Clerk-elect Calvin Duncan, denying him a position he won by election, and voters statewide rejected all five constitutional amendments on the May ballot. Could it be the Cannizzaro-Landry-Murrill connection?
It seems this has been about Goode-Douglas and RochΓ©, one or the other. But itβs really about whether it was right to go after any New Orleans judges without a thorough review and consideration of the financial impact. Cut three judges, by any name, and watch the intake at the Orleans Parish jail quickly rise, costing more money. Cut three criminal court judges, by any name, and watch docket numbers increase and justice slow. Cut three criminal court judges, by any name, and watch defense attorneys sue to pursue speedy trials and complaints from Baton Rouge that the remaining judges arenβt doing their job.
Once Landry receives the bill, he has up to 20 days to veto the bill, sign the bill, or let it become law without his signature. Early Wednesday afternoon, the guv said on social media that he will sign the bill. βOf course Iβm going to sign Senate Bill 217 into law!β he wrote. He blamed the situation on βDemocrat gamesmanship.β
Morris mightβve been disappointed, hurt, or even embarrassed if the governor didnβt sign the bill. But Landry had a chance to veto it, let the courts stand as they are and pick this matter up later β if he were truly focused on having the right number versus the wrong person.