The Criminal District Court building reopens today to the public with court security provided by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.
On Monday, Criminal District Court and Civil Court closed because recent violence at the Orleans Parish Prison prompted Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson to withdraw her deputies from their courtroom security duties in an attempt to beef-up security at the prison.
On Friday an inmate fight at the prison ended with several prisoners injured and killed. And on Sunday in a separate incident, an inmate committed suicide at the prison.
Now, after the sheriff received blowback from court judges about her obligation to the courts, deputies returned to their posts, and jurors are scheduled to report, today as scheduled.
