Mike Glasser
10-12-2006, 02:44 PM
Elloie removed from bench
By Susan Finch
Staff writer
A New Orleans judge widely criticized for granting thousands of free and reduced bail bonds to felons accused of violent crimes has been sidelined by the Louisiana Supreme Court on recommendation of its judicial disciplinary panel.
In an order issued Wednesday, the high court barred Criminal District Judge Charles Elloie from exercising "any judicial function" pending the outcome of a continuing investigation of his conduct by the Judiciary Commission and the court.
In its recommendation, the commission said it has reason to believe that Elloie has violated the law and rules of judicial conduct and that he will continue doing so, threatening the administration of justice and the public, unless he is suspended from office.
Despite expectations, Elloie did not appear at a 2:30 p.m. press conference on the steps of the criminal courthouse organized by his camp.
Instead, attorney Jim Boren -- who will represent the judge along with lawyer Ike Spears -- said the Judicial Code of Conduct forbids Elloie from speaking out about the sanctions.
Boren said the judge was notified Sept. 29 of the judiciary commission’s recommendation for suspension, after which he asked the state Supreme Court for time to respond to the claims.
In its petition, the Judiciary Commission asked that Elloie be suspended before a hearing could be held.
“We believe that there are completely valid reasons for the decisions that he made in each one of the instances that the court and the commission is criticizing him about,” Boren said. “When the whole picture has been set forth to the Supreme Court, we are hopeful they will lift the suspension.”
Boren also took on the Metropolitan Crime Commission, who released a highly critical report in 2005 about Elloie’s practice of issuing free bonds to defendents, most of them charged with municipal offenses.
“There is ample reason to suspect the survey conducted by the MCC does not tell a complete or accurate story,” Boren said. “We hope to expose in a short period of time those shortcomings.”
As for the commission’s claim that Elloie didn’t respond to 12 letters it sent the judge between January 2005 to June 2006, Boren said, “some of those were sent to this courthouse when this courthouse was closed.”
Elloie did receive some of the letters, but he noted that the letters invited Elloie’s response rather than required it.
Boren said he’s not surprised that law enforcement officials are critical of Elloie. “I have never heard law enforcement say, ‘We think bonds are high enough or people stay in jail long enough,’” Boren said. “In this country, you have a right to release on bond.”
By Susan Finch
Staff writer
A New Orleans judge widely criticized for granting thousands of free and reduced bail bonds to felons accused of violent crimes has been sidelined by the Louisiana Supreme Court on recommendation of its judicial disciplinary panel.
In an order issued Wednesday, the high court barred Criminal District Judge Charles Elloie from exercising "any judicial function" pending the outcome of a continuing investigation of his conduct by the Judiciary Commission and the court.
In its recommendation, the commission said it has reason to believe that Elloie has violated the law and rules of judicial conduct and that he will continue doing so, threatening the administration of justice and the public, unless he is suspended from office.
Despite expectations, Elloie did not appear at a 2:30 p.m. press conference on the steps of the criminal courthouse organized by his camp.
Instead, attorney Jim Boren -- who will represent the judge along with lawyer Ike Spears -- said the Judicial Code of Conduct forbids Elloie from speaking out about the sanctions.
Boren said the judge was notified Sept. 29 of the judiciary commission’s recommendation for suspension, after which he asked the state Supreme Court for time to respond to the claims.
In its petition, the Judiciary Commission asked that Elloie be suspended before a hearing could be held.
“We believe that there are completely valid reasons for the decisions that he made in each one of the instances that the court and the commission is criticizing him about,” Boren said. “When the whole picture has been set forth to the Supreme Court, we are hopeful they will lift the suspension.”
Boren also took on the Metropolitan Crime Commission, who released a highly critical report in 2005 about Elloie’s practice of issuing free bonds to defendents, most of them charged with municipal offenses.
“There is ample reason to suspect the survey conducted by the MCC does not tell a complete or accurate story,” Boren said. “We hope to expose in a short period of time those shortcomings.”
As for the commission’s claim that Elloie didn’t respond to 12 letters it sent the judge between January 2005 to June 2006, Boren said, “some of those were sent to this courthouse when this courthouse was closed.”
Elloie did receive some of the letters, but he noted that the letters invited Elloie’s response rather than required it.
Boren said he’s not surprised that law enforcement officials are critical of Elloie. “I have never heard law enforcement say, ‘We think bonds are high enough or people stay in jail long enough,’” Boren said. “In this country, you have a right to release on bond.”