Consolidation discussed during review of the two courts' proposed budgets for next year
The recommendation made by the New Orleans inspector general and others to merge municipal court and traffic court to save money came up Friday during a City Council hearing on the budgets proposed for both courts for next year.
Council member Susan Guidry says she has begun working with the inspector general on a slate of ordinances to change the operations of both courts and provide more oversight of the courts' funding.
Guidry says she supports merging municipal court and traffic court.
"I would like to work toward consolidation, just let's put, you know, go straight ahead and go up to the state legislature in the spring and call for the consolidation of the two courts."
Traffic Court Chief Judge Robert Jones told the council his office is addressing the deficiencies outlined in the inspector general's report on traffic court issued 11 months ago.
"The staff and the judges have worked very hard during the last 11 months addressing this report. We stand ready to be reviewed."
