Video & Transcript Research : 'local prosecutor'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on State and Local Government - 03/24/26
State and Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- with other counties and local with other counties and local governments<00:09:09.000>
for - trust with their local officials.
- trust with their local officials.
- trust with their local officials.
- working with the local communities. working with the local communities.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
S/C on County & Regional Government Mar 31st, 2025
S/C on County & Regional Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, this is a bill that was brought to me by a local prosecutor.
- It went to locals and consent.
- It was on locals and consent and we lost it.
- I think it's, uh, local government code.
- Uh, they are a local solution to help meet the needs of communities.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- The goal is just to be able to identify who the judge and the prosecutor are in the courtroom.
- You do a local records check for a concealed carry.
- You have gone through a local...
- You have gone through a local records check.
- So you will not do the local records check for that. We are going to waive that.
Summary:
The committee met and took up several criminal justice, public safety, and boating measures. It first heard SB 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, which would create mental health diversion options for eligible misdemeanor and felony defendants, expand mental health and substance abuse grant uses, require evaluations and treatment recommendations in certain cases, add Hillsborough County to a forensic diversion pilot list, and create a behavioral health data repository. After adopting a technical amendment, the bill received strong support from NAMI Florida, family advocates, sheriffs, and the Murphy family, and was reported favorably on a unanimous vote.
The committee also approved SB 86, expanding peer support programs for certain law enforcement support personnel, and SB 472, allowing inmates who complete approved education in correctional facilities to receive credit toward professional licensure requirements. Both bills were amended and then reported favorably without opposition. SB 276, which increases penalties for unlawfully sheltering or aiding an unmarried minor and creates a defense for actions taken to protect a minor from danger, drew questions about runaway youth, LGBTQ youth, and the scope of the defense; the sponsor said he was open to further amendment, and the bill passed favorably.
Members then approved SB 402, updating the unlawful use of uniforms, medals, or insignia statute to reference the armed forces by definition rather than by branch. SB 490, as amended, would let law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers carry concealed off duty and exempt law enforcement officers, correctional officers, and active military service members from the three-day waiting period for rifle and shotgun purchases; it passed 8-1 after debate over the waiting period and equal treatment concerns. Finally, the committee passed SB 628, Lucy’s Law, to strengthen boating safety and penalties, after adopting an amendment that removed proposed changes to warrantless blood draws and boating education requirements; the bill was supported by the family of Lucy Fernandez and passed unanimously. The meeting then adjourned.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Administration of Criminal Justice Apr 23rd, 2026
Administration of Criminal Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- It is removing that provision that authorizes parish and local law enforcement agencies to perform criminal
- history information to an authorized agency until October 1st, 2026. ...that authorizes parish and local
- The promises that were made to these victims by prosecutors when these went to trial included that we
- For those of you who are not aware, prosecutors are not independent contractors.
- those you are not aware, the prosecutors are not independent contractors.
Summary:
The committee first handled several housekeeping items, voluntarily deferring HB 123, HB 255, and HB 994 without objection. It then took up SCR 3 by Senator Brock Myers, which would delay and revise implementation of a state police rule affecting criminal history background checks for licensed ambulance personnel and certain health care workers. After adopting Amendment Set 434 to remove a provision involving parish and local law enforcement checks, the committee reported SCR 3 as amended favorably. The committee also heard HB 978 by Rep. Lecombe, which as amended raises the population threshold for municipalities required to remit certain special costs to the District Indigent Defender Fund from under 5,000 to under 9,000; with support from the town of Addis and related stakeholders, the bill was reported favorably as amended.
The committee then considered HB 967 by Rep. Moore, which sought to remove language limiting parole eligibility for certain pre-July 2, 1973 life-sentenced offenders to those who had pleaded guilty, thereby allowing a small group of elderly inmates convicted at trial to seek parole consideration. Supporters argued the bill would only create an opportunity for review, not release, and cited rehabilitation and fairness concerns; opponents, including district attorneys and corrections officials, argued the 2022 law already addressed the intended group and that the current bill would reopen cases involving serious violent crimes. After extended debate, the motion to report HB 967 favorably failed on an 8-3 vote.
Finally, the committee took up HB 1107 by Rep. Melerine, a bill on determining intellectual disability in capital cases. The bill, as amended, raised the burden of proof to clear and convincing evidence, set an IQ threshold framework, required expert reports and Daubert-type reliability review, and limited the article to post-conviction capital cases. The Attorney General’s office and district attorneys supported the bill as a way to create clearer procedures and speed resolution of Atkins claims, while criminal defense lawyers, disability advocates, clergy, and medical experts opposed it as inconsistent with current clinical standards and potentially unconstitutional, warning that rigid IQ cutoffs and presumptions could wrongly expose people with intellectual disabilities to execution. The transcript ends during closing remarks on HB 1107, with no final committee vote shown.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- prosecutotorial case a state prosecutor prosecutotorial case a state prosecutor would<00:49:35.920
- That's how I kind of read this. if if they if the prosecutor does not if if they if the prosecutor does
- . prosecutor. prosecutor.
- , to protect the judges, the prosecutors, to protect the judges, the prosecutors, the<02:55:42.560
- Third, this bill preserves local Third, this bill preserves local control.<02:59:15.520>
It's
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nominations of Dean Sauer, of Missouri, to be Solicitor General of the United States, and Harmeet Dhillon, of California, and Aaron Reitz, of Texas, both to be an Assistant Attorney General, all of the Department of Justice. Feb 26th, 2025 at 09:15 am
Senate Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- I do not know a better. lawyer in private practice, in public practice, federal prosecutor, name it,
- He worked at Cooper & Kirk, one of the nation's most influential law firms, was a federal prosecutor
- Sauer, thank you for your service as a federal prosecutor and to the people of Missouri. Mr.
- Career prosecutors were fired for working on cases that President Trump did not approve of.
- When you served as a prosecutor in the Eastern...
Keywords:
Department of Justice, nominations, Assistant Attorney General, civil rights, enforcement, committee discussion
Summary:
The meeting covered important discussions surrounding key nominations in the Department of Justice, specifically for the roles of Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and the Office of Legal Policy. Various committee members took turns to express their views on the nominees, emphasizing the implications of their potential confirmation on civil rights enforcement in the country. Alongside the committee discussion, the nominees provided insights into their professional backgrounds and how their experiences align with the responsibilities of the positions for which they have been nominated.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Financial Services Committee Apr 9th, 2025
Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- However, it's still a local issue.
- Local law enforcement works every day to assist our federal partners in doing that, and it expedites
- programs and work... ...anti-money laundering programs and work very closely with federal, state, and local
- Um, I was a prosecutor for 32 years, trying mostly death penalty cases.
- , and trial... ...law enforcement, prosecutors, and trial judges in digital evidence.
Bills:
HB297
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government (1-15-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- with our prosecutors. with our prosecutors.
- do return 95% of this money to our local do return 95% of this money to our local 911<00:20:47.919
- , bring together federal, state, local, bring together federal, state, local, and<00:28:34.640>
local level. local level. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay.- Is that local? Is it shared with the state? It's all local. It is local. Yes.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:10
Office of the Attorney General 00:00:58
Office of Homeland Security 00:17:39, 958, all
Summary:
The House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government heard presentations on several Attorney General and Homeland Security budget items. Amy Burke of the Department of Child Support Services said the program inherited a structural shortfall of more than $13 million after the transition from CHFS, including about $14 million in federal child support incentive funds that had been used to cover core operating costs and county attorney contracts. She explained that federal law requires incentive funds to supplement, not supplant, baseline services, and said the Attorney General’s budget request seeks general fund support to replace that gap and help balance the program going forward. Members asked for clarification on the misuse of the funds, the size of the shortfall, and whether the requested money would be unrestricted; staff said the intent is to use it as a contract offset for core services.
Commissioner Rich Ferretti then presented the Department of Criminal Investigations’ request for additional staffing and a Western Kentucky Digital Forensics Lab. He said DCI wants one additional special victims unit investigator and one digital forensic examiner to handle increasingly digital cases involving child exploitation, sexual assault, human trafficking, and technology-facilitated abuse. He also described plans for a lab in Mayfield, co-located with the new Mayfield Police Department facility, to reduce travel time, speed forensic processing, and improve access for rural communities. Committee members responded positively and asked no substantive questions.
Finally, the Office of Homeland Security outlined Kentucky’s Next Generation 911 project. Officials said the current 911 system was built for landlines, while most calls now come from mobile devices, and the upgrade will add precise location routing plus text, photo, and video capability. Shelley Clark described the funding model, including wireless subscriber fees and a dedicated tech fund, and reviewed progress on mapping, vendor selection, and migration to the new platform, with completion expected by July 2027. Members asked about local maintenance costs and the impact on rural areas; officials said maintenance is local but supported in part by collected funds, and implementation will not be delayed for rural localities. The meeting concluded with no votes or formal actions taken.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Joint Legislative Performance Audit Oversight Committee (03/06/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- When fully staffed, we have three prosecutors, including myself, the director.
- Very briefly about myself, I've been a prosecutor for 25 years.
- We have three prosecutors staffed.
- I've spent the prosecutor for 25 years.
- It's made up of prosecutors and analysts.
Summary:
The committee chair opened by explaining that the committee has expanded from a traditional audit-follow-up role into an oversight role focused on whether audit recommendations are implemented and whether controls are in place to detect fraud. He said the committee was concerned about fraud uncovered in social service programs in other states and wanted to understand New Hampshire’s safeguards, especially around major contracts and program performance.
Charles Buchanan, director of the New Hampshire Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and investigator Tim Brackett described the unit’s structure and mission. Buchanan said the unit, housed in the Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Bureau, investigates and prosecutes fraud by health care providers serving Medicaid beneficiaries, as well as abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of residents in health care facilities. He outlined common Medicaid fraud schemes such as billing for services not rendered, upcoding, using unqualified staff, drug substitution, kickbacks, supplemental charges, and inflated customary charges. He also described resident abuse/neglect and drug diversion in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living settings. Brackett said his role is financial investigator/auditor and noted the unit is grant-funded and must include a prosecutor, investigator, and auditor.
The witnesses then explained how cases reach the unit and how they are handled. Most referrals come from the state Department of Health and Human Services’ program integrity unit and from managed care organizations’ special investigations units, which look for fraud, waste, and abuse and refer credible allegations. Other sources include qui tam whistleblower actions, the national Medicaid Fraud Control Units association, citizen complaints, provider referrals, adult protective services law-enforcement referrals, local law enforcement, and federal agencies. Once a referral is received, the unit can accept or deny it; accepted matters may be investigated criminally or civilly, while nonviable matters can be referred back to HHS or other agencies for administrative action, including repayment demands and reimbursement offsets. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Healthcare, 2026-2027; SB 1854, Higher Education, 2026-2027; SB 1855, Human Services, 2026-2027; SB 1857, Local
- This bill strips local communities of their right to decide where major power plants are built in their
- It's local communities of their right to decide where major power plants are built in their own backyards
- belief on me,' a patient, could then be hit with a felony charge, because a police officer or a prosecutor
- President Pro Tem, so that we can understand exactly how police and prosecutors weaponized laws like
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Your local school district will never have an outside sensor dropped on its network unless it asks and
- They tighten accountability, protect local autonomy, and lock in the guardrails that each of you have
- Senator King moves that it be recommended for the local and uncontested calendar.
- House Bill 5435 is favorably reported, and upon a motion by Senator King, it is recommended for the local
- Seren King moves that be recommended for the local uncontested calendar with objections.
Summary:
The Senate Business and Commerce Committee met with a quorum and considered several House bills. House Bill 111 was taken up as a committee substitute; members briefly discussed what entities the bill would apply to, and the committee substitute was adopted and reported favorably to the full Senate by a 6-5 vote. House Bill 150, relating to the Texas Cyber Command, received extensive explanation of a revised committee substitute that made the command a standalone state agency, allowed flexible state partnerships, preserved vendor neutrality, added emergency purchasing guardrails and reporting, protected existing confidentiality laws, limited monitoring to contracted entities, and clarified coordination with law enforcement rather than direct prosecution. The substitute was adopted and HB 150 was reported favorably 11-0.
The committee also reported House Bill 2517 favorably without debate, 10 ayes and 1 present not voting. House Bill 2963 was considered with a committee substitute that added a definition of “power sports vehicle” and exempted those items from the right-to-repair bill; the substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, with a recommendation for the local and uncontested calendar. House Bill 3520 was reported favorably by a 7-4 vote, and House Bill 5435 was reported favorably 11-0 and also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar.
After completing the votes, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Senate and Governmental Affairs May 27th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Johnson that transparency is good for local government.
- And is this something that you all can work in partnership with the local facilities as well, the local
- She's a former prosecutor under Mr.
- I was a prosecutor on this. I spent my entire career.
- I was a prosecutor on this. I spent my entire career.
Summary:
The committee first approved the May 20 minutes and then advanced HCR 95, which would create a more uniform tax base for future state and local tax exemptions and credits, requiring a two-thirds vote of both chambers to deviate from that uniformity. HB 648 was deferred by the author. HB 1049, dealing with public meeting procedures and notice requirements, was amended after discussion with the Police Jury Association, school boards, and local government groups; the amendments removed a requirement for a lawyer at every meeting and clarified notice and posting language, and the bill was reported with amendments despite opposition from local government associations and the City of Baker.
The committee then heard HB 615, which would expand livestreaming and two-year archiving requirements to more public bodies, including non-elected boards and commissions with taxing or rulemaking authority. Supporters framed it as a transparency measure, while local government and association witnesses argued it would impose an unfunded mandate, especially on small volunteer boards, and raised concerns about costs, staffing, record retention, and reliance on social media platforms. The bill was not advanced. HB 1201, as amended, would provide legislators reimbursement for travel and limited out-of-session expenses, including housing and mileage, beginning with the next term; members discussed the need to make public service more financially feasible and to broaden who can afford to serve. The committee reported HB 1201 with amendments.
The committee also considered two constitutional convention-related bills. HB 244 would set guardrails for any future convention by capping delegates at 144, specifying delegate selection, requiring a two-thirds delegate vote to send proposals to voters, and requiring both a majority of voters and approval by three-fourths of the parishes for ratification; after debate over whether the parish threshold was too high, the bill was reported favorably on a roll call vote. HB 4, as amended, was narrowed to require the Senate and House Governmental Affairs committees to meet in the off-season to discuss the mechanics of a possible convention, but members viewed it as more of a study resolution than binding legislation, and the committee voted to keep it in committee.
The meeting then moved to confirmation hearings. Courtney Myers, nominated for Deputy Secretary for the Office of Juvenile Justice, and Ernest Jacob Reade Jr., nominated as Assistant Secretary, testified about their backgrounds and priorities, emphasizing juvenile rehabilitation, education and vocational programming, mental health services, credible messengers, family contact, and better communication with legislators and families. Nathan McBride, nominated as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, testified about his engineering and government affairs background and said he would focus on legislative work, waste tire management, permitting modernization, and constituent service.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Oct 8th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I have had more than one occasion where prosecutors from my office have come up to me, not just to say
- a sea change in how the Senate and the House, the legislature in general, has been approaching prosecutors
- that has resulted in things getting out of skew, with smaller prosecutor's offices having more prosecutors
- And funded a... we may be underfunded, but not by... and we would, I think every prosecutor would tell
- You know, he's on the prosecutor side. No, if I could get as much money as they get, yes, I would.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- Prior to coming to this role, I spent 30 years in a local school district as a teacher, a principal,
- Valid reporting and data will allow the PED as well as the local education agency to be proactive in
- If you're a good prosecutor, you will be contacting them because they're your law enforcement.
- I mean, one of the benefits was conferring with prosecutors.
- Much of the system is very local, and people see things from a local perspective.
Keywords:
constitutional amendment, legislative sessions, veto override, New Mexico legislature, session length, legislative session, even-numbered years, New Mexico Constitution, student behavior, physical restraint, seclusion, public schools, training, de-escalation, student safety, behavior interventions, criminal offenses, peace officer, Victims of Crime Act, law enforcement
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- It would be a prosecutor who has the entire discretion.
- It would be a prosecutor who has the entire discretion. Determination.
- It would be a prosecutor who has the entire discretion to apply the law how they see fit, leaving the
- So in more than 90% of cases, the prosecutor is the final decision maker who has that full discretion
- This power that the police and prosecutors have consistently targets Black and brown communities, and
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- SB 1857, Local Government, 2026-2027. SB 1858, Revenue, 2026-2027.
- investments, restricts land investments, and creates a... ...and creates a, and puts into statute the local
- This bill strips local communities of their right to decide where major power plants are built in their
- It strips local communities of their right to decide where major power plants are built in their own
- President Pro Tem, so that we can understand exactly how police and prosecutors weaponized laws like
Summary:
The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recorded attendance, welcomed former Senator Limpancrazi, and recognized page Owen Washburn and his family. The chamber then moved through messages and second-reading listings, and the Committee of the Whole considered several House bills. HB 2398, dealing with watercraft operation and peer-to-peer watercraft sharing insurance, received a floor amendment clarifying the types of insurers that may provide primary commercial boat liability coverage and was reported do pass as amended. HB 2477, relating to the Arizona Education Savings Plan, was amended to add investment guardrails, conflict-of-interest protections, an advisory team, limits on land investments, and statutory treatment of the local government investment pool, then reported do pass as amended.
The Committee of the Whole also considered HB 2251 on midwifery, which was amended to transfer oversight of licensed midwives from the Department of Health Services to the Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board, add a licensed midwife to the board, separate midwife and naturopathic funds, apply investigative and disciplinary procedures, and make conforming changes; it was reported do pass as amended. HB 2991, concerning minors’ access to technology content and social media, drew extensive debate. A floor amendment revised age-signal and parental-consent procedures, changed default settings language, removed a private right of action, and made other technical changes. Senators Tise, Epstein, and others argued the bill still raised serious First Amendment and censorship concerns, while Senator Bullock defended it as a child-safety measure that did not require uploading ID. The bill was ultimately reported do pass as amended.
In third reading, the Senate adopted the Committee of the Whole report, retained HB 2397 on the calendar, and voted on several bills. HB 2104, HB 2105, HB 2763, HB 2786, HB 2771, HB 2782, and HB 4117 passed; HB 2457, HB 2494, and HB 2696 failed. HB 2457 and HB 2494 drew opposition over local control and land-use concerns, while HB 2696, aimed at fuel and gas prices, drew criticism that the Commerce Authority was not the right vehicle and that the issue was driven by federal policy. HB 4117, relating to offenses against public order and religious services, passed after sharp debate over whether it would protect worship or chill protest and free speech, with opponents warning of vague language and potential political prosecutions. The Senate also voted to reconsider its prior action on HB 2311 and HB 2601, requested the House return HB 2995 for reconsideration, and adjourned until Thursday, June 11, at 10:00 a.m.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Prioritizing Public Safety / Proposed Civil Commitment Changes / Supporting Education Pension Reform Apr 13th, 2025
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- also has a problem with retaining police officers across the board, whether it's in the troopers or local
- they<00:06:44.880>
travel <00:06:45.280>all <00:06:45.520>over don't stay local - , they travel all over don't stay local, they travel all over the<00:06:45.919>
state. - <00:25:45.760>
government by the state and local government by the state and local government - development, labor, state and local development, labor, state and local government,<00:26:20.159
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Tougher penalties for introducing contraband into MN prisons, HF327, heard in committee 3/4/25
Transcript Highlights:
- DOC correctional facilities as well, or is your intent, Representative Ingan, just to apply to the local
- prosecutors as a result of investigations that took place.
- criminal referred 24 cases uh for uh criminal prosecution<00:08:43.560>
to <00:08:43.839>local - <00:08:44.720>
prosecutors <00:08:45.720>um <00:08:46.320>as <00:08:46.440> prosecution to local prosecutors um as a prosecution to local prosecutors um as a result<00:08- > a
Summary:
The committee took up House File 327, which would increase penalties for introducing contraband into correctional facilities, especially drugs and other dangerous items sent through the mail or brought in by outside actors. Representative Ingan described the bill as a response to a sharp rise in violations and staff exposures in DOC facilities, arguing that stronger felony penalties are needed to deter people from sending in illicit substances. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the committee omnibus because it has a fiscal note.
The committee adopted the DE1 author’s amendment after Representative Ingan explained it was intended to clarify language that could otherwise create a catch-22 for people arrested or booked into jail who already have contraband on them. Members then raised concerns about the breadth of the bill, including overlap with an existing DOC statute and the possibility that the language could sweep in incarcerated people in situations involving prescription medication or minor exchanges. House nonpartisan staff and members suggested the DOC provisions should be reconciled with existing law before moving forward, and some suggested narrowing the bill to focus more specifically on jails.
Sheriff Brad Wise of the Minnesota Sheriffs Association testified in support, saying contraband in jails threatens staff, inmates, visitors, and administrators and that current penalties are not enough to deter smuggling. Commissioner Paul Schell of Corrections also testified, noting that DOC already has a separate statute with a higher felony penalty for certain contraband, described the department’s mail-scanning contractor process, and said it has reduced suspected drug incidents by about two-thirds. An A2 amendment tied to medication intake practices was offered by Representative Curran but then withdrawn after discussion, with members agreeing the issue of medication access in facilities should be handled separately.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Louisiana Public Defender Oversight Board Jun 18th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We're in the court with them, the judges, the prosecutors.
- Some have it now in their local districts, some provide it, some don't.
- I firmly believe that the legislature and the other local governments who invest in public defenders
- Which allowed the local municipalities here and the parish government to invest in the public defender
- And the third part is local investment.
Summary:
The Louisiana Public Defender Oversight Board met on June 18, 2026, with a quorum present and adopted the agenda. Public comment was dominated by district defenders and other public defense leaders praising State Public Defender Remy Starns for improving communication, collaboration, and overall system performance. Speakers from multiple districts said the system is more unified, better supported, and more stable than in prior years, and several credited Starns with helping resolve long-standing tensions and improve coordination across capital, district, and appellate work. One speaker also paid tribute to the late Mike Ginnard, describing him as instrumental to earlier public defense reforms.
In his report, Starns said the system has improved over the last seven years but still needs a sustainable funding source. He discussed legislative changes affecting public defense, including a cleanup bill, elimination of filing fees for writs and appeals, and a new procedure related to expert-fee requests in light of recent court rulings. He also described ongoing efforts to integrate capital and appellate work into district offices, expand the laws/writs program, and continue post-conviction work under new statutory rules. Starns emphasized recruitment and retention, including the need for affordable health insurance and retirement benefits, and again honored Mike Ginnard for his leadership and service.
The board then adopted proposed bylaws, after some discussion about special committees and public meeting requirements. Members agreed to create a committee to review and refine the bylaws later, and they also elected a vice chairman and designated the Office of the Public Defender, with staff support, as secretary for recordkeeping. Finally, the board heard a presentation on the strategic plan, which was described as largely an update to the prior version with terminology changes, new accessibility-related goals, and added performance measures for training, compliance, and communications. The strategic plan was adopted by resolution, and the meeting adjourned.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Louisiana Public Defender Oversight Board Jun 18th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We're in the court with them, the judges, the prosecutors.
- Some have it now in their local districts, some provide it, some don't.
- I firmly believe that the legislature and the other local governments who invest in public defenders
- And the third part is local investment.
- Even where they're not granted, the benefit is that if the courts and the prosecutors know that you're
Summary:
The Louisiana Public Defender Oversight Board met on June 18, 2026, established a quorum, and adopted the agenda. Public comment took up most of the meeting, with numerous district defenders and chief defenders speaking in support of State Public Defender Remy Starns. Speakers from several districts said the system is more unified, communication with the state office has improved, and local offices feel better supported than in the past. Several also credited Starns with visiting districts, helping with local issues, and improving coordination on capital and non-capital work. One speaker, Richard Thompson, emphasized Starns’ background and training under Sam Dalton, and another noted that a recent staffing decision in St. John the Baptist Parish ultimately proved beneficial for mentorship and resource sharing.
Starns then gave his state public defender report. He said the system has improved over the last seven years and argued that public defense still needs a stable, renewable funding source comparable to other parts of the criminal justice system. He discussed legislative changes affecting public defense, including a cleanup bill, a law eliminating filing fees for writs and appeals, and a new procedure related to expert-fee claims after a recent Louisiana Supreme Court decision. He also described ongoing efforts to integrate capital and post-conviction work into district offices, expand the laws/writs program, and use local and state resources more efficiently. He thanked the board, the Public Defenders Association, and the late Mike Ginnart, whom he praised for his leadership and service.
The board then considered and adopted proposed bylaws. Members discussed the need for a vice chair and a secretary, the role of special committees, and whether committee meetings should be public and limited to less than a quorum. The bylaws were adopted with the understanding that a committee would review and refine them later; volunteers were named for that committee. The board then elected a vice chair and designated the Office of the Public Defender, with staff assistance, as secretary for recordkeeping. Finally, the board heard a presentation on the strategic plan, which was described as largely unchanged from FY25 except for updates to reflect current law, accessibility requirements, training, compliance, and communication goals. The strategic plan was adopted by resolution, and the meeting adjourned.