Attorney
General Files Legal Brief in Support of Crescent City, NOPD
NEW
ORLEANS, LA - Fighting back against a federal judge’s latest attempt to usurp
authority from local officials in our State, Attorney General Jeff Landry has
filed a legal brief supporting the City of New Orleans in a matter related to
the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) consent decree.
Over
the express objection of City officials and without the authority to do so,
Judge Susie Morgan attempted to force numerous local officials into appearing
in her courtroom to make statements to the press about the consent judgment and
other policing issues not governed by the judgment. In response, the City of
New Orleans last week petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth
Circuit for a writ of mandamus, which is an extreme appellate procedure
warranted only when a trial judge makes a grave error. Late Friday, the Fifth
Circuit halted the appearances until it can put out an order addressing the
mandamus petition.
Yesterday,
Attorney General Landry argued in a legal brief that Judge Morgan abused her
authority under NOPD consent judgment, a failed federal decree that threatens
our State’s sovereign right to decide how to structure government and to
provide for the safety of its citizens and their property within the borders of
the City of New Orleans.
“For seven years, I have said this consent decree needs to
end. It has done nothing but handcuff cops instead of criminals. Federal judges
have no business running police departments; and when they do, this is what
happens,” said Attorney General Landry.