La. Supreme Court chief justice touts juvenile justice work
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NEW ORLEANS — Retiring Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Pascal Calogero Jr. says it has been a “privilege’’ to serve on the high court since 1973 and as its presiding judge since 1990.
“It has truly been an honor for this public servant, whose only professional goal has been to serve the citizens of Louisiana with integrity, honesty, and a dedication to justice and the law,’’ he wrote in the court’s recently released 2007 annual report.
It was last year that Calogero received the Dwight D. Opperman Award for Judicial Excellence from the American Judicature Society. The award is presented annually to a state judge of a trial or appellate court who has had a career of distinguished judicial service.
“To be honored in this way was truly a humbling experience, and I know that the award reflected the efforts of all of the Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court with whom I have worked, as well as the dedicated members of the state judiciary and our excellent staff here at the Court,’’ he said in his final annual report message.
The 76-year-old Calogero, who is retiring at the end of the year as his term of office expires, cited “significant improvements in judicial administration’’ during his 18-year tenure as chief justice.
“I believe we have accomplished much during the last two decades, and I am proud of the work of the Justices and our Supreme Court staff,’’ he said.
Calogero said those accomplishments include:
- Significant reforms to Louisiana’s juvenile justice system. The chief justice said he spoke to the Legislature several years ago about the need for such reform, and state lawmakers responded.
- Progress in the area of indigent defense, including creation of a statewide indigent defender board that was later transferred to the executive branch, and a recent increase of the Louisiana Public Defender Board’s authority and funding.
- Improvements in the areas of judicial and attorney discipline, and adequate funding for both.
The annual report highlighted other accomplishments and happenings from 2007, including:
- Louisiana’s 45 adult and juvenile drug courts received $12.6 million in state and federal funds to support the treatment, drug testing and supervision costs to serve about 2,900 clients monthly.
- The Louisiana Protective Order Registry, a statewide repository of court orders issued to prohibit domestic abuse and dating violence, received more than 20,000 orders.
- Some 540 new attorneys were admitted to the Louisiana bar.
- Applications from an additional 46 attorneys — split nearly evenly between criminal and civil practice — were approved under emergency pro bono rules. Those attorneys join the 88 civil and 23 criminal applications approved in 2006, allowing out-of-state attorneys to donate time to assist hurricane victims in civil matters throughout the affected region and criminal matters in Orleans Parish.
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