[StBernard] EDITORIAL: Order in the court

[Westley Annis]

EDITORIAL: Order in the court 

Periodically, the press office will share editorials about Governor Blanco's work in various areas.


By: Times Picayune 
Published: Friday, June 16, 2006
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/editorials/index.ssf?/base/news-3/115043960632460.xml 

It took a disaster of monumental proportions to force the changes, but New Orleans' judicial system is getting a makeover. 

The Louisiana Senate voted 29-10 Wednesday to go along with House changes to Senate Bill 645 to consolidate Orleans Parish's civil and criminal courts, the two court clerks offices and the civil and criminal sheriffs offices. 

In addition, Juvenile Court will be merged into the new 41st Judicial District Court, as the mer! ged courts will be known. Also, the offices of recorder of mortgages, register of conveyances and custodian of notarial archives will be abolished, and the clerk of courts will take over those duties. 

Most of the merger will be phased in by 2010, but the Juvenile Court will not become part of the new court system until 2015. 

New Orleanians might wish that the changes were happening sooner, since they will make the system more logical and easier to navigate. But a quick turnover wasn't likely to pass the Legislature. As it was, the consolidation package wasn't easy to pass. 

Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who made the consolidation one of the key issues in her legislative package, helped push the legislation through. The governor has been instrumental in downsizing New Orleans government since Katrina, and she deserves great credit for her foresight. 

Because of resistance by some senators, Sen. Mount's bill was far less sweeping when it ! went to the House than the one that ultimately passed. The House amend ed her bill to look more like Rep. Peppi Bruneau's, which included the sheriffs merger and the Juvenile Court move. 

The Senate took about an hour to haggle over the House changes Wednesday before passing the amended version. Four New Orleans area lawmakers, Sens. Diana Bajoie, Francis Heitmeier, Ed Murray and Derrick Shepherd, were among the 10 senators who voted against reform. 

Opponents complained that it was too soon after Katrina to consider merging judicial offices. That's nonsense. The splintered system was problematic before the storm. The changes are not being made abruptly, and a panel of experts will study how many judges are needed in the combined court system. 

"This is the right time to do this," said Sen. Tom Schedler. "The sun, the moon and the stars are aligned." Yes, Katrina realigned our universe in heartbreaking fashion. But the storm also gave us a chance to fix some of our failings, and the consolidation in the judicial! system is an important step in rebuilding a new New Orleans. 


-30-


The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation
Louisiana's Fund for Louisiana's People
www.louisianahelp.org