Orleans Public Defenders

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Who We Are

OPD Statement on Hate Speech by Former New Orleans Prosecutor

: News; 24 October 2024

The recent WWLTV story highlighting racial hate speech by a former assistant district attorney while he was a prosecutor in New Orleans is shocking and deeply troubling. It is concerning both for our clients and the larger community who are asked to put their faith and trust in prosecutors to serve the community and deliver justice. We are disturbed so many New Orleanians’ lives were in the hands of someone demonstrating racial animus.

In Louisiana, prosecutors have near total discretion to decide who, what, where, when, and how to prosecute. Prosecutors have immense power over people’s lives. The use of racial epithets and hate speech is unacceptable, but particularly when it raises questions about how such power is exercised. Our community deserves better.

OPD FY25 Budget Public Notice

: News; 01 June 2024

The Orleans Public Defenders will hold a public hearing on the FY 2025 proposed budget.

June 14, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

OPD Conference Room
2601 Tulane Avenue, Suite 700

The proposed budget will be posted on the website and available for public inspection on June 13, 2024.

Media Advisory: OPD's Robert Jones to speak on panel regarding the state of public defense during a crime-focused election year

: News; 18 March 2024

**MEDIA ADVISORY**

The State of Public Defense During a Crime-Focused Election Year

On Gideon Day, public defense chiefs from across the U.S. will hold a virtual press briefing to commemorate the establishment of an accused person’s right to counsel and to challenge misleading narratives about crime

OPD Statement on Passage of Senate Bill 8 Altering the Structure of Public Defense in Louisiana

: News; 29 February 2024

New Orleans - In 2007, almost 100 bi-partisan stakeholders worked to create sweeping change and establish meaningful constitutional representation for the thousands of Louisianans within the criminal legal system consistent with established guidelines such as the American Bar Association’s 10 Principles of Public Defense.

Act 307 created standards of representation, established transparency and accountability, and institutionalized Louisiana’s obligation to provide indigent representation. It was hailed as legislation that finally ensured Louisiana had a system of delivering indigent defense that clearly provided all defendants with a right to effective representation.

The Orleans Public Defenders have fought tirelessly since then to improve the quality of representation of New Orleanians and ensure zealous advocacy is not determined by the amount of money in their pockets.

For nearly two decades, public defense in New Orleans and Louisiana has suffered from an overall lack of adequate, stable, and reliable funding. Senate Bill 8 unfortunately didn’t address that; instead it has the potential to fundamentally change what the right to counsel for Louisianans looks like by eroding the independence inherently necessary for a fair and non-partisan legal system.

At its core, public defense safeguards against government overreach, misconduct, and abuse. Our concern remains how these changes will affect autonomous representation for New Orleanians and how we will be able to advocate for and represent our community.

While legislators assure this is still a priority issue, more work remains to improve this bill and fully realize the constitutional right to representation in Louisiana. We remain committed to working with legislators, stakeholders, and our community to ensure public defense is fully funded in stable, reliable ways and all Louisianans have access to zealous and effective representation.

OPD's Danny Engelberg Named Chief Defender

: News; 04 April 2023

New Orleans – The Orleans Public Defenders is thrilled to announce the appointment of Deputy Chief Defender Danny Engelberg as the next Chief Defender for New Orleans. Engelberg was selected by the Louisiana Public Defender Board to succeed previous Chief Defender Derwyn Bunton who stepped down in September.

“I am humbled to have been chosen to lead this office of such extraordinary fighters and relentless advocates who stand up or our clients and community every single day, fighting for equity, understanding, and the rights of all New Orleanians. I am constantly inspired by their grit and compassion, and honored to fight alongside them each day.”

Statement on Mayor Cantrell's Support in Juvenile Court

: News; 25 August 2022

The harms of the criminal legal system are well known; the ineffectiveness of a strictly punitive approach toward juvenile crime even more so. Supporting a child, as the Mayor did recently, who has proven their desire to take accountability and make personal change should not be demonized. It should be championed and replicated.

In our collective efforts for accountability, particularly for children, we must also prioritize paths for rehabilitation, growth and success. It does not diminish the harm caused by their actions, but instead, offers the opportunity to prevent further community harm. We should all rally around our community’s kids to support their growth in productive and meaningful ways. If not, we will remain on the generational hamster wheel of harm and loss. Simply put, kids can change and we should do everything to support them.