After courts across New Orleans shut down earlier today, some courthouses have reopened, including civil court and municipal and traffic court.
Sheriff Susan Hutson pulled deputies from court duty to work the jail, after a fight between inmates Friday sent some to the hospital over the weekend, and one of the inmates died. There was also an inmate suicide on Sunday.
Chief judge of New Orleans Municipal and Traffic Court Paul Sens told WWL's Newell Normand a sheriff just can't leave the courts hanging.
"There's three obligations a sheriff has under the law: The first is to collect taxes other than Orleans parish, the other one is to man the courthouse, and the third one is to do the jail," Judge Sens said. "She's got to know that. You don't just say, 'I'm taking them out.'"
Judge Sens says after he informed the sheriff's office of that, deputies reappeared at municipal court. A Civil District Court spokesman says there are also deputies on duty at the courthouse on Loyola Ave.
At Orleans Criminal District Court, however, Deputy Judicial Administrator Shannon Sims said as of noon there were still no sheriff's deputies providing screening or security at the courthouse at Tulane and Broad.
A statement from Criminal District Court reads: "The Court has requested a meeting with Sheriff Hutson by day's end and is currently awaiting a response as to her availability. The Judges remain committed to resuming normal court operations and are hopeful for a favorable outcome."
