New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams and personal injury lawyer Morris Bart today announced details of how Bart's firm will help the D.A.'s office screen cases.
Lawyers for Bart will start screening cases for the DA’s office on whether they meet the criteria for bringing charges against a defendant. Williams and Bart announced today that they will be specifically tasked with screening illegal gun charges.
"Morris Bart and his team of six lawyers have begun volunteering as assistant district attorneys supporting our screening division," said Williams, "specifically with regards to the rapid screening of illegal possession of firearm cases."
Bart said his firm is doing this entirely on a volunteer bases and is not being paid.
"My goal from the beginning has always been very simple: I wanted to step up. I wanted to do something meaningful to help New Orleans which is the city I love," said Bart.
Williams says the extra manpower is appreciated, and something that wasn't needed in the past, before prosecutors had to go through hours of police body-worn camera footage.
The final decision to proceed with charges and trial is in the hands of the Assistant District Attorneys.
The partnership, announced over the weekend, seems to reflect the Bart firm’s desire to help out District Attorney Jason Williams address a backlog and deal with a heavy docket of cases that need screening.
