Mayor Cantrell puffed out her chest today as she reacted to the decision by 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to delay a public court hearing on the Consent Decree, the Mayor doubled down on her calls to end the Decree at her late morning press briefing:
“From talking with both police officers who are part of our police department now, those officers who have separated from our department, or law enforcement officers elsewhere that would want to come to New Orleans to serve, this consent decree is an impediment. It is a burden."
What began with Cantrell instructing her police department not to cooperate with the Consent Decree personnel when questioned in public forum like an open hearing before a judge.
WWL-TV reports on Tuesday the Fifth Circuit sided with the Mayor, allowing a stay order for the hearing to remain in place for 30-days.
The move is seen by the court as a way to start negotiations and get the hearings back on track.
“Yesterday, it was a step in the right direction, giving and breathing life I would say of objectivity back into this, not subjectivity,” Cantrell about the Fifth Circuit's decision.
This is just the latest in a maneuver that began last year when the Cantrell Administration attempted to bring an end to the Consent Decree, claiming NOPD was close to fully being compliant.
The Cantrell Administration filed a motion to wind down the consent decree. Ultimately, Federal Judge Susan Morgan denied closing out the decree.
Meanwhile, Tuesday's action by the Fifth Circuit is a victory for Cantrell; it represents a minor bit of relief for the city in the on-going consent decree drama.
