The New Orleans City Council has a closed-door meeting today to discuss the NOPD consent decree, and the mayor's reluctance to participate in hearings with the consent decree monitors.
New Orleans City Councilmember Joe Giarrusso wonders what the administration is doing, by refusing to participate in a public forum with consent decree monitors, going over the presiding judge's head to avoid a court hearing, and then scheduling multiple public meetings but not having the consent decree monitors involved.
This comes after the administration refused to take part in a public forum arranged by consent decree monitors. Giarrusso says it's confusing.
"When you say 'I can't come to court because this is going to use our resources and we don't have enough time,' then how do have these consent decree meetings across the city in eight different places?" he said.
Giarrusso told WWL's Newell Normand that they seem to be trying to get under Judge Susie Morgan's skin.
"I just don't understand why you want to provoke and poke somebody in the eye unnecessarily," said Giarrusso. "I don't know how the judge could possibly be happy with what's (happening) right now. You file a mandamus against the court, that's order saying that you shall do something, that judge cannot be pleased with that being filed."
He says after also refusing to attend a court hearing, and going to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to bypass the judge's order, it only looks like the city is trying to thumb its nose at the district judge.
"On the outside, looking in, without being a lawyer for the case, I can't imagine how the court would be pleased with this," said Giarrusso.
