HelpKatrinaLawyers.org Now Available Online

Do you need guidance restoring backed-up data or recovering data from physically damaged computer systems? Do you need answers to other technology questions to get your practice up and running? A group of volunteers, composed of legal technology consultants, practice management advisors and vendors of legal products and services, have joined forces to help. For more information on the resources available, access www.HelpKatrinaLawyers.org or visit www.lsba.org/home1/NewsDetails.asp?NewsID=21

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Progress Report On Inmate Tracking/Release Efforts

In an email tonight, Keith Nordyke, Coordinator for the NACDL/LACDL Katrina Relief Task force reports the following progress:



Significant progress was made today regarding release of the prisoners
transferred from N.O. post Katrina. LACDL and NACDL have been working
virtually around the clock trying to negotiate a solution to the inmates
held for municipal offenses, inmates due and over due for release and
others. I'll send a full report in the morning when I have all of my
notes from the office and can digest into a synthesized form the many
email messages and calls today. I think we now have a better grip on
the delays and the reasons which I will try to outline tomorrow morning.
A brief summary follows:

1. A number of parole revocation inmates have either been released or
will be soon. Number is estimated to be 220 or so.
2. Of the "municipal" prisoners, about 250 total should be out in
24-36 hours. Although we are upset with the 24 hour delay, it is
occasioned by problems in checking for active warrants and
probation/parole holds. Many of these searches are frustrated by lack
of automation in local facilities.
3. Parole hearings were held today and I believe 18 were paroled.
4. I am informed that Jefferson Parish has started rounds to where
their prisoners are held and are getting them cut loose. I have heard
that a number are already out. Reports from lawyers in those areas
would be appreciated. Please put Jefferson parish in the subject line.

5. Others should follow as systems come back up.

It's my guess that we should see a fairly orderly out migration
starting Friday which is the timetable that was given to those of us at
the meeting with the AG and Supreme Court on Monday.

The process is being organized by DOC and should be ready tomorrow with
the actual releases to follow soon. I understand that the lists
compiled by Orleans will go out tomorrow morning to the facilities
ordering release for Friday.

Not withstanding rumor on the internet, the process has been tedious
and moreover, been done manually from a 1300 page small font list. It
is just taking time to confirm status and then confirm identity and then
confirm no detainers/warrants. In our field interviews, we have come to
believe that many are overdue for release. It appears that some of
those we thought should be released have active holds.

I'll try to cover what we know about the bonding process that is being
developed in tomorrow's email.

I know that we are all frustrated and upset over the delay. I
certainly am. However, at least for this first group and for a couple
of categories that should follow soon, this process seems to have
worked.

When I get in tomorrow and get the notes I made today, I will update
this post.

Keith

Louisiana Supreme Court closed through October 1, 2005

The Supreme Court of Louisiana shall be closed through October 1, 2005, unless extended by order of this Court. All filings due during the period of closure shall be deemed timely filed if filed within 5 days of the resumption of normal Court operations. This closure shall serve as an exception to Part One, Chapter 6, Article II, Section 2 of the Human Resource Management Manual for the Supreme Court of Louisiana.

LIDAB Posts Inmate Tracking Database with Info on Evacuated Inmates

This afternoon LIDAB posted the inmate tracking database on its website. This is a database that is being created through the dedicated efforts of volunteer attorneys from LACDL, LIDAB, and LAPDA. This database is based on forms filled out by inmates and interviews at the facilities and includes information about the inmate's location, case status, heath status, defense lawyer and location of person who can be contacted on inmate's behalf to inform of their whereabouts.

This database is being updated as we receive new forms and the data entry workers update the database. This list is in html and alphabetical. An MS Excel version is HERE for viewing, and HERE for download. You can download the MS Access version HERE . If your client is not listed in the database, check the DOC list HERE .

A couple of words about the database. The first link is in html and the second is in Excel. But, we are still working on the search capabilities. Both are in alphabetical order. The database information will take longer to update as the forms arrive and data entry people input the data. The DOC and other lists have the majority of inmates listed. The database is an attempt to provide contact information, (attorney name, charges, etc.) in an attempt to help the clients.

Volunteers are getting the information as quickly as they can. Last database update was 09/14/2005 06:00 PM

Information Available On Ouachita Parish Inmates

The LIDAB Inmate Page has been updated with a list of inmates from Ouachita Parish. The list is of all inmates, not just transferred. But, this is how it was received. It is in searchable excel form.

Attorney General Confers With Key Criminal Justice System Players

On Monday afternoon September 12, 2005, Attorney General Charles Foti lead a meeting of key players in the Louisiana Criminal justice System to discuss the evacuated prisoner situation and coordinate efforts to rebuild. Among the many stakeholders present were Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Kitty Kimball, LACDL President David Price, LIDAB Director Ed Greenlee, LAPDA Director Paul Marx, LACDL Liaison Jim Boren. Also present were representative of the Department of Corrections, and the Louisiana District Attorney’s Association. Significant progress was made on several fronts.

The meeting was very productive. The Attorney General acknowledged the need to get municipal detainees and misdemeanants (both pretrial and convicted) out of jail. Procedures to get all held on misdemeanors before cross-deputized judges, to release on recognizance or for time served were discussed.

The Attorney General has given temporary office space to the prosecution and defense, including computer access, and Tilden Greenbaum has about 6 Public Defenders that he expects to reconstitute the Orleans Indigent Defense Program. This arrangement will facilitate the disposition of the easy cases.

The State will be combing the records of the Clerk and Sheriff in Orleans that have been recovered. They plan to "Release on Recognizance" the people who are charged with or have status of “Municipal Misdemeanors pending.” They will release misdemeanants whose time served is equal to their sentence. The D.A.'s staff will review State Misdemeanors and hopefully will agree to release some of those on recognizance.

Tilden wants to avoid felony plea bargains unless it is clear the evidence has not been lost. Nonetheless, whatever can be done to release is going to be done.

We are going to rush to complete our inmate tracking efforts as much as possible as insurance that what was promised at the meeting will happen. We expect that by the end of next week we will see some release. We will need to support the Public Defenders as they start to dig out and follow up on inmates that are transferred to see that they are fairly treated.

We expect that Jefferson Parish will be back in operation in 14 days. It remains unclear when St. Bernard and Plaquemine will be back up

LIDAB, will also have office facilities at the Livingston Building, but Greenlee is currently operating out of Shreveport where Richard Goorley has provided him space in the CAPOLA offices. Currently Orleans Parish is operating at Hunt.

A working group will consult the LDAA on an Executive Order to issue late September and to include criminal law issues in the Governor's Emergency Decree to lift certain deadlines.

Importantly there was acknowledgement of the impending funding crisis. FEMA Funds may be available for both DA’s and Defenders as well as members of the Private bar. We will need to help Ed Greenlee come up with a special budget proposal for the special legislative session. LDAA says they will support a joint emergency budget request based on the storm damage.

Notice to Louisiana Lawyers Having Business with Federal Courts

On September 13, 2005 the fololowing was sent by emailto LSBA Members:

Notice to Louisiana Lawyers Having Business with Federal Courts
Due to Hurricane Katrina, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association and the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana have established a Communications Center in Lafayette to facilitate communication between the federal courts and displaced lawyers who have business before the courts. The Center will be staffed by a Special Master and staff attorney who will offer assistance to lawyers and the public on matters such as: reestablishing contact with the federal courts; file reconstruction; keeping current with court orders and notices; contacting other displaced counsel; and contacting displaced court personnel. The Center may be contacted via e-mail at gary_zwain@laspecialmaster.com or sylvia_lowe@laspecialmaster.com. Phone service is expected to be operational later this week. Phone and fax numbers will be posted at www.lsba.org/home1/news_and_developments.asp as soon as they are available.

Message from Frank X. Neuner, Jr., President Louisiana State Bar Association

The following message from Frank X. Neuner, Jr., President Louisiana State Bar Association was sent out by email on September 13, 2005

resident''s Message
For those lawyers and their families who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina, we hope that you have found adequate shelter and office space to continue your practices. We are attempting to anticipate the needs of displaced lawyers and develop programs to assist them with reestablishing their practices. In that regard, we are working with other Bar Associations to schedule seminars for lawyers who have lost their offices and/or access to their files.

The Louisiana State Bar Association website www.LSBA.org continues to be our primary and most effective means of communication. We know that many of you are having trouble with telephone service, and if you need to reach me the most effective way is to email me at fneuner@LN-LAW.com.

I have been working closely with the Louisiana Supreme Court and Attorney General Charles Foti''s office to coordinate our efforts in meeting the needs of the public and the lawyers of Louisiana with regard to the justice system. The LSBA will continue to post on our website orders from the Louisiana Supreme Court and other Louisiana Courts. I urge you to visit www.LSBA.org on a daily basis for new information and services.

The LSBA owes a special debt of gratitude to the State Bar of Texas for sending five key staff members to Lafayette for several days in the week following the hurricane. These individuals were instrumental in establishing our temporary offices and organizing the Bar’s disaster legal assistance seminars.

Finally, while the Bar Center is operating from its temporary offices in Lafayette, I ask for your patience and consideration. Like many of you, members of the staff have had their personal lives turned upside down and are displaced. Despite this, may of them have been working long hours since the week Katrina hit to update the website and otherwise assist members of our Association and the public. Your patience and understanding when dealing with the LSBA staff will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Frank X. Neuner, Jr., President
Louisiana State Bar Association

Louisiana Lawyer Displacement Database

Attorneys displaced by Hurricane Katrina can now enter contact information by visiting the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board's website http://www.ladb.org . All updated contact information will be available to be viewed by the public. Clients or other members of the public will only be able to view the updated contact information entered by the attorney. Previous bar registration information will not be made available to the public.

The Displacement Database will also allow clients to enter their updated contact information. This updated contact information will be sent to the designated attorney via e-mail at either the attorney's bar registration address or, if updated contact information has been received from the attorney, at the attorney's newly-submitted e-mail address. Additionally, upon logging in, attorneys will be able to view a list of their clients who have entered updated contact information by scrolling to the bottom of the attorney data page.

Once an attorney enters updated information, clients who have registered at the site and included an e-mail address in their updated information will receive e-mails notifying them of their attorney's new contact information.

You can enter your contact information by visiting the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board's website http://www.ladb.org and selecting the appropriate log-in link on the websiteÂ?s home page or by clicking on the link below:

Attorneys click here to enter updated contact information and to access the displaced client database.

Clients click here to enter updated contact information and to access the displaced attorney database.