Orleans Public Defenders

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OPD Launches Community Know Your Rights Series

: Calls To Action; October 22 2018

Know Your Rights Flyer Oct 19

Together with the Juror Project and New Orleans Councilmember Jason Williams, OPD has launched a Know Your Rights Community Forum series. Through presentation, discussion and an active role-playing scenario, the series will outline the criminal justice system and people's rights within it from stop and search, to arrest and first appearance.

The event is Friday, October 19, from 6 - 7:30 pm at Dillard University's Georges Auditorium and hosted by District D Councilmember Jared Brossett and Dillard's Housing, Health and Community Resources Fair.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information: visit the Facebook event page.

Friday's event is the first in an ongoing series throughout New Orleans. Stay tuned for future dates.

If you'd like to host a Know Your Rights event with your organization or community, please reach out to Lindsey Hortenstine, .

Women with a Vision and Southerners on New Ground Honored with Clyde Merritt Award

: News; May 09 2018

2018 Clyde Merritt Award WWAV SONG smaller Two weeks ago, OPD honored several community organizations with our highest honor, the Clyde Merritt Award, for their extraordinary work to free poor people held pretrial who can't afford their bonds. Women with a Vision and Southerners on New Ground have made a significant impact on OPD clients, their families and the New Orleans communities.
“Community bail funds represent the power citizens have to save one another from an unjust, unfair and unequal money bail system and the New Orleans community has stood up ready to advocate for its most vulnerable and disenfranchised,” said Chief Defender Derwyn Bunton. “These organizations have affected numerous lives so far. We know when people are out of jail, they can better help their case, are able to maintain their jobs, homes, stay with their families and children, remain connected to their community, and have an exponentially greater chance to succeed.”

Chief Defender Derwyn Bunton once again presented the awards during the Ben Levick Sullivan Investigator Fellowship fundraiser. The fellowship, now in its fourth year, quickly become an integral part in fulfilling OPD’s mission to provide zealous, client-centered representation. The fellowship was established in the memory of Ben Sullivan and his incredible passion and dedication for public defense. Ben devoted himself to those in need, sought the truth and endlessly fought for justice.
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 the cause of public defense in New Orleans.

OPD Honors Jones Walker Partners Mark Cunningham and Mike Magner with 2017 Clyde Merritt Award

: News; May 05 2017

2017 Clyde Merritt Award Mike Magner Taryn Blume Derwyn Bunton Mark Cunningham OPD recently honored Jones Walker partners Mark Cunningham and Mike Magner for their dogged and zealous pro bono representation of former OPD investigator Taryn Blume. The award recognizes extraordinary commitment and fight for public defense in New Orleans, and both Mark and Mike have long been supporters of OPD.

“The zealous representation by Mark and Mike has allowed me to move forward with my life. Their dedication to not only my case, but our entire office, truly demonstrates their commitment to OPD, our clients, and the work we’re doing for justice,” said Taryn Blume during the award presentation.

Chief Defender Derwyn Bunton once again presented the awards during the Ben Levick Sullivan Investigator Fellowship fundraiser. The fellowship, now in its third year, has proven to be a success and an integral part in fulfilling OPD’s mission to provide zealous, client-centered representation. The fellowship was established in the memory of Ben Sullivan and his incredible passion and dedication for public defense. Ben devoted himself to those in need, sought the truth and endlessly fought for justice.

Established in 2012 to honor one of the stalwart advocates for public defense, Clyde Merritt, the Clyde Merritt Award recognizes commitment and fight for the cause of public defense in New Orleans.

60 Minutes: Inside NOLA public defenders' decision to refuse felony cases

: News; April 24 2017

60 minutes "Here, we have a criminal justice system, stories of innocence throughout and profound. And we still haven't had the urgency that I think we need to reform it so that we don't destroy lives. Because make no mistake, we're destroying lives. And we will no longer be complicit in that kind of injustice."

- OPD Chief Defender Derwyn Bunton, talks to 60 Minutes' Anderson Cooper about the injustices of our criminal justice system and the chronic underfunding of public defense in Louisiana.

Watch the full segment here.

ACLU Lawsuit a Chance for Reform

: News; January 20 2016

Louisiana’s user-pay criminal justice system is inadequate, unstable and unreliable. Given the failings of our system, the lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on January 14, 2016 comes as no surprise. The resource struggles of the Orleans Public Defenders Office (OPD) are evidence of how the user-pay system fails to protect poor citizens in our courts and fails to guarantee fairness in our criminal justice system.

Any kindergartner looking at our criminal justice system – particularly our system of public defense – can see it is unfair. While this lawsuit is not necessarily welcomed, OPD welcomes reform. It is our hope this lawsuit leads to lasting reform and a more fair, more just criminal justice system. We welcome the opportunity to have a real, engaged discussion on public defense funding reform moving forward.

Read more on the lawsuit at The New Orleans Advocate.

Joseph Allen is lucky he could afford a lawyer to prove his innocence

: News; December 18 2015

By Innocence Project of New Orleans' Director Emily Maw

What if Joseph Allen and his family had been too poor to hire a lawyer? What if, like almost 85 percent of New Orleanians who have a family member charged with a crime, they had to rely on the Orleans Public Defenders to represent Mr. Allen?

He was charged with 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder on Nov. 27 because police believed he was one of the Bunny Friend Park shooters. He was completely innocent, his lawyer quickly proved that, and he walked free last week. But because our public defenders are woefully underfunded and under-resourced, if he had relied on the Orleans Public Defenders (OPD), that staff would probably have been unable to do the investigation needed to prove his innocence. He would have been wrongly convicted and likely sentenced to spend the rest of his life in Angola.