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OPD FY25 Budget Certification
- News
The Orleans Public Defenders certifies the completion of the fiscal year 2025 budget. For budget details, please contact Chief Administrative Officer Dannielle Berger at .
FY 25 Amended Budget
- News
The Orleans Public Defenders' FY 2025 operating budget was amended. For budget details, please contact Chief Administrative Officer Dannielle Berger at .
Radley Balko: The Redeem Team
- News
Collectively, they spent 155 years in prison. Now they counsel other people facing their own long sentences. A conversation with five peer advocates at the New Orleans public defender's office.
By Radley Balko
March 15, 2025 - Of the five men who serve as “peer advocates” for the Orleans Parish Public Defender, only one — Robert Jones — is an exonoree. He was released in 2016 after the BBC uncovered evidence of his innocence. He had been convicted of a rape and robbery spree in the French Quarter that culminated in the killing of a British tourist. Jones now serves as director of community outreach for the office.
Another of the five, Terry Pierce, says he was acting in self-defense when he shot and killed a man in 1980. The other three — Michael Banford, Everett Offray, and Louis Gibson — do not claim that they were innocent.
OPD Statement on the Death Penalty and Execution of Jessie Hoffman
- News
As public defenders, we know each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done. Everyone is capable of redemption and transformation. This includes Jessie Hoffman. The planned execution of Mr. Hoffman by nitrogen gas is cruel, inhumane, and unconstitutional. It also disregards the dignity, worth, and capacity for change and redemption in all of us - particularly Mr. Hoffman.
OPD offices closed due to dangerous winter weather in New Orleans and surrounding areas
- News
OPD offices remain closed Tuesday through Friday, January 21 - 24 due to the unprecedented winter weather in New Orleans. We anticipate being open again to the public on Monday, January 27 as snow and ice have subsided.
Attorneys and staff can be reached via direct emails. Specific staff information can also be found on the staff page.
Confidential emails can also be sent via the contact form.
While Orleans Parish courthouses are closed, please see the Criminal District Court website for updates as to proceedings, directives, and court openings.
OPD Statement on Hate Speech by Former New Orleans Prosecutor
- News
The recent WWLTV story highlighting racial hate speech by a former assistant district attorney while he was a prosecutor in New Orleans is shocking and deeply troubling. It is concerning both for our clients and the larger community who are asked to put their faith and trust in prosecutors to serve the community and deliver justice. We are disturbed so many New Orleanians’ lives were in the hands of someone demonstrating racial animus.
In Louisiana, prosecutors have near total discretion to decide who, what, where, when, and how to prosecute. Prosecutors have immense power over people’s lives. The use of racial epithets and hate speech is unacceptable, but particularly when it raises questions about how such power is exercised. Our community deserves better.
OPD IN THE MEDIA
HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Talks Public Defense featuring OPD
Public Defense Matters
See our new YouTube channel and listen to some of our stories.
Indefensible: The Story of New Orleans' Public Defenders
More than 80% of defendants in New Orleans can’t afford a lawyer ...
When the Public Defender Says, ‘I Can’t Help’
“Your Honor, we do not have a lawyer for this person at this time.”
