Criminal Justice conference looks at judicial system in the eye of disaster recovery

During a recent Criminal Justice Section conference, “Disaster Preparedness and the Criminal Justice System,” participants heard first hand from officials and lawyers who were on the ground during and after Hurricane Katrina. The program, held Nov. 2-3 in New Orleans, brought together such notables as Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti Jr.; Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Catherine D. Kitty Kimble; Marlin N. Gusman, sheriff of the Parish of Orleans; and E. Pete Adams, executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association.

Nearly a year and a half after the hurricane, the lawyers, prosecutors, judges and police in New Orleans, Mississippi, Alabama and other affected areas, are still struggling with seeking justice where courthouses have been destroyed, evidence has been lost, inmates’ and defendants’ whereabouts are unknown, and lawyers’ offices remain closed.

In addition to the plenary sessions, the hands-on conference sessions included break-out sessions for defenders, prosecutors and corrections officials. After the break-out sessions, the various groups came together to report on what had been discussed. The break-out sessions covered such topics as “Criminal Justice Recovery: Lessons Learned” and “Preparing the Criminal Justice System for a Disaster.”

Criminal Justice Section Staff Director Jack Hanna reported that the break-out groups were especially beneficial in sharing information and “stressing the critical need for a comprehensive disaster plan,” whether it be a natural disaster or one man-made.

Disaster preparedness resources compiled by the association can be found on the section's Web site. Such resources include a court plan and hurricane plan from Miami; “After the Dust Settles,” written by Teresa Miranda for the National District Attorneys Association; and a report by the National Association of Court Management.

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