In a departure from prior appointments, the council only considered one of three nominees in a public meeting, apparently reaching a ‘consensus’ in private. That could violate state sunshine laws.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Closing arguments made in hearing over new jail facility
City says it can’t afford new building meant to house incarcerated people with mental illness.
Posted inOpinion
‘I’m not racist’ because…
I was so busy telling myself how not racist I was that I wasn’t paying attention to my own behavior and recognizing myself in the discussions of racial bias in America.
Posted inCriminal Justice
DA candidate Keva Landrum issued at least two material witness warrants for crime victims
Neither were in cases of domestic violence or sexual assault, and records reviewed by The Lens do not indicate either was jailed on the warrant.
Posted inBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens episode 102: God save the state and this honorable court
Material witness warrants and DA candidates. Sidney Torres and Civil District Court. And the possible end of a five-year-old consent decree over the city’s schools.
Posted inCoronavirus
Four new COVID-19 cases connected to NOLA Public Schools, 146 quarantining
Transmissions connected to schools in the city appear to remain low. The total number of “active cases” in the district is the same as last week.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Fair Wayne Bryant, man given life sentence for stealing hedge clippers, granted parole
Bryant’s story gained national attention after the state Supreme Court refused to review his sentence.
Posted inSchools
Judge orders state, district to set ‘proactive’ compliance before exiting landmark special education settlement
New Orleans public schools have been under a federal consent decree, due to special education problems, since 2015.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Judicial campaign accuses opponent of conspiring with Sidney Torres to circumvent campaign contribution rules
Torres loaned Jennifer Medley $100,000, shortly before she loaned her own campaign the same amount.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Courtroom at Tulane and Broad closes after prosecutor tests positive for COVID-19
The ADA tested positive last week, Cannizzaro spokesman says.