Senate approves plan to reduce some Orleans Parish criminal judgeships after heated debate

The Louisiana Senate on April 20 approved SB 217, a bill sponsored by Sen. Morris that reduces the number of criminal district court divisions in Orleans Parish and makes related adjustments to court staffing and authority, by a recorded vote of 27 yeas to 9 nays.

Sen. Morris, the bill’s sponsor, told colleagues the change is intended to “rightsize” judicial resources, citing comparative caseload figures and saying the state currently shoulders disproportionate costs for criminal court operations in New Orleans. “The state is having to pick up more in Orleans Parish than any other parish in the state,” Morris said, arguing the measure increases efficiency and preserves core criminal-court capacity while adjusting divisions.

Opponents delivered an extended floor rebuttal, challenging the data and the bill’s effects. A lawmaker opposing the measure warned repeatedly that reducing judgeships could “slow down the amount of time it takes to get a case from start to finish” and said reductions “will hurt plaintiffs… will hurt cases… [and] will hurt victims,” pointing to concerns raised by local watchdogs and a city letter questioning the comparability of filing data across parishes.

Lawmakers adopted a package of technical and substantive amendments before final passage, including changes to implementation timing and clarifications about commissioners and clerks. The sponsor said amendments preserve mechanisms to delegate certain duties to commissioners and to let courts set administrative staffing levels by committee approval rather than mandating fixed head counts.

Supporters framed the measure as fiscal and administrative restructuring; critics said it targets New Orleans without adequate, comparable data. Several speakers urged further study or a broader, statewide approach instead of singling out one parish.

SB 217 passed on the day’s floor with the announced tally of 27 yeas and 9 nays and was ordered to be sent on to the next legislative step. The sponsor moved to reconsider; the motion to reconvene was entered as pending per chamber practice.