Caddo, Natchitoches public defenders contracts axed by governor's appointee
CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—Five District Public Defenders in Louisiana learned that their contracts will not be renewed, including the 1st Judicial District Defender in Caddo and the 10th Judicial District Defender in Natchitoches Parishes.
The Public Defender Association of Louisiana (PDAL) announced an emergency meeting to discuss public defenders' contracts in response to emails sent to DPDs, which was held on February 27, 2025, informing each individual that their contracts would not be renewed for the 2026 fiscal year. Additionally, the remaining 32 DPDs were required to schedule individual meetings with State Public Defender Remy Voisin Starns to 'review' their contracts.
PDAL issued a statement saying, 'PDAL opposes the State Public Defender's continued pattern of exceeding his statutory authority and the multitude of decisions that run contrary to the American Bar Association's Ten Principles of a Public Defense Delivery System. Most notably, Principle 1 entitled Independence reads in pertinent part as follows:
Public Defense Providers and their lawyers should be independent of political influence… [and] [t]he selection of the head of the Public Defense Provider, as well as lawyersand staff, should be based on relevant qualifications…[n]either the chief defender norstaff should be removed absent a showing of good cause.
Lawmakers seek to expand juvenile felonies through Louisiana constitutional amendment
The mention of 'political influence' refers to a move made by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry in 2024 in his efforts to reform the State Public Defender's Office. The move increased the governor's power over public defenders by creating an office of the state public defender and hand-selecting a head, essentially muting the power and autonomy of the existing Louisiana Public Defender Board. Starns was Landry's chosen leader for the newly created office.
During a state legislative hearing, Michelle AndrePont, from the Caddo Parish Public Defender's Office, was among those to testify – primarily related to her office's budget and pay for its defense attorneys, which has been the subject of ongoing debate and frustration for board members and public defenders.
In a statement, the five DPDs whose contracts will not be renewed issued the following statement.
We remain steadfast in our belief that opting to testify before the Louisiana Legislature inattempts to maintain the independence of the Louisiana Public Defender System was notonly the right decision but our duty as public defense leaders. We believe independence iscrucial to a functioning criminal legal system. Additionally, all District Public Defendersand line defenders must be free from political influence. Termination without cause forspeaking out is the antithesis of that freedom.
We are also very proud of our continued work with Governor Landry's newly appointedLouisiana Public Defender Oversight Board (LPDOB) to establish objective criteria forfair compensation of District Public Defenders. We have privately and publicly supportedthe Board's plan, despite the State Public Defender's objection to it, because it valuesfull-time public defense leaders and long-term service to the public defense system. Webelieve Lousiana citizens deserves leaders who are as committed and hard working asthey are. For voicing these beliefs, we face termination without cause.
Our contract non-renewal flies in the face of the bedrock American value of Freedom ofSpeech codified in the First Amendment. We are hopeful that Governor Jeff Landry willsupport the Constitution and uphold the ideal of public defense independence.
The public defenders say they will continue advocating 'on behalf of the Public Defense System in opposition to any abuse of statutory authority.' A meeting of the Louisiana Public Defender Oversight Board (LPDOB), as mandated by the Louisiana Legislature, is scheduled for late March. The association expects the decision not to renew the contracts of the five District Defenders and the 'review' of the others will be part of the meeting's agenda.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Advocates lead the fight against human trafficking in Shreveport
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Forget what you've seen in the movies, human trafficking doesn't always look like 'Taken.' It can look like a teenager at your child's school in your neighborhood. In most cases, children aren't kidnapped; they're groomed online, slowly and deliberately, until they no longer realize they're in danger. Tips for parents to protect children from human trafficking 'They're being promised things that are never going to happen. That's very attractive to a vulnerable child or a teen, and they think, 'Oh, this sounds great! I'm going to be a model, movie star, or singer,'' explains Laurie McGehee, Executive Director of FREE The Coalition to End Human Trafficking in NWLA. For many survivors, the trauma runs deeper than what's visible, it's not just physical abuse, but a psychological grip that can be nearly impossible to break. 'A lot of people who have been trafficked have been through incredible abuse, and not just physical abuse, but psychological abuse. Just the trauma that they've endured, and the coercion that has happened to them, where their trafficker actually has control over their minds and their bodies. One survivor told me it was like being in prison without the bars,' says McGehee. CPSO juvenile detective shares complexities of fighting human trafficking That kind of deep trauma doesn't disappear overnight, and that's where FREE comes in. They connect survivors with counseling, support, and resources to begin the long process of healing. 'The first thing we want to do is get an advocate in there, someone who is very experienced in talking to young people with trauma, so that we don't re-traumatize or re-victimize as we're talking with them and finding out what has happened,' McGehee explains. FREE doesn't just help survivors heal, they're working to stop trafficking before it starts. In partnership with Caddo Parish Schools, they now provide mandatory training to help teachers and staff recognize the red flags of exploitation. However, it's not just up to law enforcement or educators; every person has a role to play in spotting the warning signs and speaking up. 'Please call. We would rather you call and be wrong than do nothing, and you can always ask law enforcement for a child welfare check,' she says. Louisiana conference tackles human trafficking prevention If a child shows a sudden change in behavior, physical signs of abuse, or a lack of control over their life, don't ignore it. Know the signs and know who to call. If you'd like to learn more, the South-Central United States Human Trafficking Conference, put on by the FREE coalition, begins today at LSU-Shreveport. The two-day event will focus on networking, learning, and empowering the community to better prevent, identify, report, and respond to victims of human trafficking. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Human Trafficking: U.S. Attorney's Office says it's closer than you think
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — While many associate human trafficking with major cities like New York or Los Angeles, federal prosecutors say the crime is often rooted in smaller, rural communities — including right here in Louisiana. Survivor Lindsey Rayl shares story of human trafficking 'There's this notion that human trafficking only occurs in big metropolises,' said Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell. 'But a lot of the small rural venues are where trafficking can take place, especially if there's an interstate corridor nearby with lots of hotels. That's where traffickers often set up.' Campbell says the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana focuses on prosecution, prevention, and protecting victims. Their primary tool for prosecuting traffickers is U.S. Code Section 1591, though other laws — including the Mann Act and child pornography statutes — are used as well. But securing a conviction is only part of the process. Campbell says gaining the trust of a victim is often the most critical and difficult step. Tips for parents to protect children from human trafficking 'These survivors are going through trauma,' he explained. 'They're in recovery, and then we ask them to testify in court. That's why we need more than just law enforcement. We need people victims feel safe talking to.' Support often comes from advocacy groups like Purchase, the YWCA, and local organizations that provide shelter, medical care, counseling, and job placement. A victim witness specialist helps coordinate these services and build a bridge between survivors and the justice system. 'We will prosecute vigorously and investigate aggressively,' Campbell said. 'But we also want to make sure victims get what they need to move forward.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Texarkana Police Explorer program halted over misconduct claims
TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) – 32-year-old Zackary Gilley was arrested and placed on administrative leave on Monday on charges including two counts of sexual assault of a child. Louisiana conference tackles human trafficking prevention According to a probable cause affidavit, the case involves a 15-year-old taking part in the Texarkana, Texas Police Department Explorer Program, which mentors young people interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement. Investigators believe it began at the start of last year when Gilley told his mentee that he had a crush on them and that they had to pinky promise not to tell anyone, the minor said this interaction made them uncomfortable. The document details an escalating series of inappropriate behavior and sexual contact Gilley allegedly committed during ride-alongs. Survivor Lindsey Rayl shares story of human trafficking In light of this incident, TTPD says they are pausing the Explorer program.'We've made the decision to pause our explorer post activities while we take a thorough look at the program. The safety of the young people involved is absolutely our top priority, and this review will help us make sure the program is not only meeting that standard, but also providing the kind of positive, meaningful experience that it's meant to provide,' says Shawn Vaughn with TTPD. Gilley was released after posting a $600,000 bail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
