They're tryna gut our justice system, cher
Where y'at, New Awlins? Monique Thibodaux-Laurent here, and I gotta tell you, my blood pressure is doing a little second line all its own after seeing what's coming out of Baton Rouge. You know how we always say they don't understand us upriver? Well, this time, they're not even trying to pretend. They're taking aim at our very own criminal justice system, and it's got me hotter than a bowl of Commander's Palace turtle soup.
The Legislature's Meddling
It's not just that one wild bill trying to strip a clerk's position from a man who was exonerated – though that alone is enough to make you wanna throw your hands up. That bill, aimed at Daniel Hamilton Jr., who spent 25 years in Angola for a crime he didn't commit before being freed, is just the tip of the iceberg, baby. The state legislature, bless their hearts, has a whole slate of bills that are looking to chip away at our local control, specifically aiming to reduce the number of judges and prosecutors right here in Orleans Parish.
* They want to cut down on the number of judges we have.
* They're pushing to reduce the number of prosecutors.
* The overall goal seems to be to centralize power and strip local autonomy.
This ain't just some political squabble, you know? This is about our city's ability to run itself, to have a justice system that understands the unique pulse of New Orleans, not one dictated by folks who probably think Bourbon Street is the pinnacle of our culture. We've fought too hard, especially since Katrina, to rebuild our institutions, our communities, our very way of life, to let some folks up in Baton Rouge decide what's best for us. Our city's heart beats differently, our challenges are different, and our solutions gotta be homegrown, cher. That's New Orleans, baby — we bury our dead above ground and keep the music below.
My cousin Boudreaux and them break this down real good every morning – catch 'em live at mornings.live.