Criminal Justice
Mayor, Judge and Jury
Louisiana’s Mayor’s Courts
If you break the law in many small towns in Louisiana, the mayor could be your judge. The arrangement is ripe for conflict of interest.
Mayor, Judge and Jury
Mayors Are Presiding Over Their Town Courts Despite Guidance Saying They Shouldn’t. A Lawmaker Calls for Reform.
We found more than a dozen places in Louisiana where the mayor sat on the bench of a court that pulled in a sizable share of the town’s revenue. The state says this arrangement could be unfair to defendants.
Local Reporting Network
