Court Watch NOLA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability, and fairness in New Orleans’ criminal court system, has released a comprehensive report today titled “Disconnected: Mobile Phone Access in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.”
The report examines the courthouse’s restrictive policy banning the public from entering the courthouse with mobile phones and highlights the significant barriers it creates for community access, safety, and transparency.
Melanie Bray, Director of Legal Programs & Advocacy for Disability Rights Louisiana, joined disability rights advocate, Lila Zucker, and Court Watch Deputy Director, Jesse Manley, to give a press conference in front of the steps of New Orleans’ Criminal District Court. (pictured above)
You can view the press conference here:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/9141259062575659
From Court Watch NOLA’s press release:
Court Watch NOLA Deputy Director Jesse Manley said:
“This report underscores the urgent need to modernize court policies. The current policy prohibiting phones creates unnecessary obstacles for defendants, crime survivors, and their respective families who are making a good-faith effort to engage with the criminal legal process. This punitive ban undermines public trust, safety, and equitable access to justice. The court can at any moment decide to revise this policy and create a more accessible and inclusive legal system that our community deserves. Court Watch NOLA encourages them to fix the policy today.”
Melanie Bray, Director of Legal Programs & Advocacy for Disability Rights Louisiana said:
“Disability Rights Louisiana is the protection and advocacy agency for the State of Louisiana, serving to protect, empower and advocate for individuals with disabilities. While accessibility is necessary across the board, it becomes particularly important with regards to court proceedings. Whether a criminal or civil matter, the ability to meaningfully participate is vital. For some individuals, technology is an accommodation to ensure accessibility. We are confident the Orleans Parish Court will be amenable to ensuring all individuals are able to participate with accommodations if necessary.”
Key Findings from the Report Include:
• Outlier Status: New Orleans is one of only two major U.S. cities with comparable crime rates to enforce such a ban, diverging sharply from national and local norms. States like Michigan and Massachusetts have implemented inclusive statewide policies, demonstrating the feasibility of allowing regulated phone access.
• Community Impact: a CWN-conducted survey revealed that 68% of visitors find it difficult to attend court without their phones, with public transit users disproportionately affected. Nearly half (47%) report feeling unsafe without their phones.
• Accessibility Concerns: The policy excludes individuals with disabilities and medical needs, such as those managing diabetes, hearing and visual impairments, reducing their ability to participate fully in the legal process.
• Financial and Safety Issues: Visitors face financial burdens from for-profit phone storage services, run by bail bond companies, and increased risks of vehicle theft and break-ins near the courthouse.
• Transparency Challenges: The policy hampers civic engagement by discouraging participation in court-watching programs, a vital tool for public oversight and judicial accountability.
To read or download a .pdf copy of the report from Court Watch, click the button below:
https://disabilityrightsla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Disconnected-Visual-Report.pdf
The report is also available for download on Court Watch NOLA’s website at www.courtwatchnola.org.
To read or download a .pdf copy of the full press release from Court Watch NOLA, click the button below:
https://disabilityrightsla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Courtwatch-NOLA-Press-Release-11.21.24.pdf
If you would like to request a customized accessible copy of our documents, or for any additional information, please contact Kevin Hurstell, Disability Rights Louisiana’s Director of Communications and Outreach:
khurstell@disabilityrightsla.org.
About Court Watch NOLA:
Court Watch NOLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability, and fairness in New Orleans’ criminal court system. Through monitoring court proceedings and advocating for systemic reform, the organization works to build public trust and ensure equal justice under the law.
