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In 2004, the Louisiana Legislature unanimously approved the creation of an Indigent Defense Task Force by passing Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 136.
For more information on the mission of the 2004 Task Force as well as its membership, please link to the text of the legislation at:
http://www.legis.state.la.us/leg_docs/04RS/CVT2/OUT/0000LQ7I.PDF
The Task Force was directed to study indigent defense in the state and propose remedies to address the failing public defense system. Its diverse 43-member composition included members of the legal community, law school appointees, juvenile advocates, representatives from all three branches of government, the Louisiana District Attorney's Association and Louisianan Public Defenders Association, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, the AFL-CIO, the Louisiana Interchurch Conference and others. The deliberations of the Task Force produced three pieces of legislation. Each recommendation was approved by the Task Force with overwhelming consensus. Senator Lydia Jackson (Shreveport), Chair of the Task Force, introduced these measures during the 2005 Legislative session.
These bills include:
SB 281: Requires the establishment of a uniform system for reporting court and other judicial agency sources of revenue and expenditures per source in annual audit reports. This bill was never considered.
The text of this bill is available at: http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=297845
SB 323: Provides uniform definitions of ³indigent² and ³case², empowers the state Indigent Defense Board (LIDAB) to collect data on caseload and resources for all offices across the state and changes the composition of the LIDAB board to better protect it from political interference. This bill passed the House 96-0 and the Senate 38-0. It was signed by the Governor (Act 343).
The final version of this bill is available at: http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=316875
SCR 23: Creates and provides for the continuation of the Indigent Defense Task Force to further study the crisis in indigent defense and make recommendations to resolve its problems.
For more information on the mission of the 2005 Task Force as well as its membership, please link to the text of the legislation at:
http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=317229
The Louisiana Justice Coalition applauds the hard work of the Indigent Defense Task Force members and particularly the leadership of its Chair, Senator Lydia P. Jackson. The crisis in indigent defense has consequences for all members of the Louisiana community and recommendations for reform should be the result of thoughtful participation by experts, advocates, and those directly impacted by the failing system. LJC has high hopes that the Task Force will produce such recommendations for the 2006 legislation session. Louisiana has a responsibility to provide equal access to justice for all people, no matter how much money an individual has in their pocket.
Senate Concurrent Resolution Number 136 by Senator Jackson.
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