NEW ORLEANS, LA — Council Vice President Matthew Willard and District A Councilmember Aimee McCarron issued a formal statement today opposing a set of bills advancing through the Louisiana Legislature, including SB256, SB217, SB197 and HB911. These bills would consolidate – and thereby eliminate – several elected positions in the Orleans Parish court system, including elected judges and clerks of court.

As a former state legislator and chair of the House Democratic Caucus, Councilmember Willard stands with the voters of the city and the elected judges and clerks administering its legal system. “As an elected leader serving the people of Orleans Parish, I must express my strong opposition to any legislation aimed at unilaterally restructuring our court system,” said Council Vice President Willard. “The elimination of these elected positions would not streamline government, it would strain it. I support the New Orleans Delegation in their efforts to defend New Orleans against this targeted attack on our judiciary and criminal district clerk of court.”

“The people of New Orleans went to the polls and elected judges and a criminal clerk of court that these bills are set to remove,” said Councilmember McCarron. “If enacted, these bills would render those votes meaningless. Stripping Orleans Parish of its duly elected officials does not make our justice system more efficient or our streets safer; it makes our constituents less represented. Significant changes to our justice system should be thoughtful, transparent, collaborative, and rooted in the will of the Orleans Parish voters.”