FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 4, 2021
OPD HONORS 2020 NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL WITH CLYDE MERRITT AWARD FOR HISTORIC FUNDING PARITY ORDINANCE
Annual Award Honors Commitment and Advocacy for Equal Justice in New Orleans
New Orleans – Today, the Orleans Public Defenders (OPD) honored the entire 2020 City Council with the annual Clyde Merritt Award for the historic parity ordinance unanimously passed into law in August of 2020. The Funding Parity for Public Defense ordinance mandated that 85% of the city budget appropriation allocated to the District Attorney be given to OPD. It was a giant leap forward toward equity and justice in New Orleans. By creating parity in funding between public defense and the district attorney, New Orleans boldly declared that all New Orleanians’ in the justice system are valued, not just the wealthy and well-connected.
“This legislation was historic in every sense and the result of years of fight by our community. The distance between what we have had for so long and what is required for us to do our job is staggering. The tide is changing and we are grateful to the City Council for their leadership and courage in making this happen and are proud to honor them,” said Chief Defender Derwyn Bunton.
Council President Helena Moreno acknowledged the significance of the work saying, “It was our honor to move forward with this legislation that spoke about equality and fairness in our criminal justice system.”
The 2020 City Council included Councilmembers Joe Giarrusso, Jay Banks, Kristin Palmer, Jared Brossett, Cyndi Nguyen, Helena Moreno and former Council President Jason Williams, who championed the ordinance. Also honored were Keith Lampkin and Micah Ince, Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for former Council President Williams, who were instrumental in writing the legislation and ensuring its success with the Council.
Recently, Mayor Cantrell presented the 2022 New Orleans budget that included funding parity for the first time. By reducing the funding gap between public defense and prosecution, the parity appropriation increases OPD’s ability to ethically, professionally, and constitutionally represent the almost 20,000 cases appointed each year. It begins to level the playing field for the disproportionately low-income, Black and Brown people navigating the justice system.
Established in 2012 to honor one of the stalwart advocates for public defense, Clyde Merritt, the Clyde Merritt Award recognizes extraordinary commitment and fight for public defense and equal justice in New Orleans. Past award honorees include Voice of the Experienced Executive Director Norris Henderson, New Orleans Saints players and Players Coalition Task Force members Demario Davis and Benjamin Watson, Women with a Vision, Southerners on New Ground, former OPD investigator Taryn Blume, Jones Walker partners Mark Cunningham and Mike Magner for their zealous defense of Taryn, Steve Singer and Willy Boggs for their work in creating holistic defense in New Orleans, and former OPD investigator Emily Beasley and Investigation Supervisor Nicole Heisser for reimagining the role and impact of investigation in defense.
The Orleans Public Defenders’ mission is to fight for our clients by providing excellent client-centered representation, reforming the system and partnering with the community. We believe in the strengths of our community and fight for dignity, justice and hope. OPD protects innocence, holds powerful actors accountable, and fights for our community by connecting clients to critical social services and treatment, housing, education and employment, and reentry services.
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