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The Orleans Public Defenders (OPD) was created in 2007 to provide defense to people who cannot afford an attorney in Orleans Parish. The newly formed OPD office represents a rebirth of the old Orleans Indigent Defense Program. The old program could not handle the caseloads they were facing and the justice system was not serving the people of New Orleans – a reality highlighted by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The new office received funding from the state and federal government to hire and train a full-time staff able to meet the demands of our justice system. This dedicated staff of attorneys, investigators, and administration is better equipped to handle the caseloads and provide defense for the city’s poor.
The accomplishments of the Orleans Public Defenders since then have been tremendous and were recently recognized by the Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR). SCHR awarded the office with the Frederick Douglass Award in 2009. Chief District Defender Derwyn Bunton is excited about the progress thus far and looks forward to the future of the office.
“We are committed to this city, its health and safety, and its citizens. It will take hard work from all of us, but we must continue to grow and develop if New Orleans wants to claim a commitment to justice and fairness.”
- Derwyn Bunton, Chief District Defender for Orleans Parish
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