The state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments over pre-2019 non-unanimous jury verdicts, and whether retrials for all those convicted are required. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
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Today marks the three-year anniversary of Ronald Greene’s death. Still no charges against the State Troopers who were seen on body camera video beating Greene before he died. Kevin Gallagher has more…
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The bird flu is migrating across the country, but so far Louisiana has a clean bill of health. David Grubb has the story…
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The state Supreme Court will hear arguments today about whether those who were convicted by non-unanimous jury verdict deserve a new trial. In 2018, voters passed a Constitutional Amendment ending conviction with as many as two jurors voting no. In 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that convictions must be unanimous, but did not call for new trials. Loyola University Law professor Dane Ciolino explains what the High court was thinking…:
Cut 4 (13) “…from decades ago.”
The federal court’s action basically left it up to Louisiana to decide whether all those non-unanimous conviction must be retried. Ciolino says the state Supreme Court will take up the case of Reginald Reddick; convicted in 1997 – by a 10-2 jury – of a murder in Plaquemines Parish and sente4nced to life with no parole. Ciolino says what the court decides will set a huge precedent…:
Cut 5 (08) “…requiring unanimity.”
State Attorney General Jeff Landry wants the court to rule against Riddick’s right to retrial; concerned it will open a flood gate of suits seeking the same and jam up state courts. Ciolino says others feel non-unanimous verdicts were never fair or correct, and the state Supreme Court’s decision will be eagerly anticipated…:
Cut 6 (11) “…criminal procedure.”
Ciolino says, if the court rules FOR retrials, the justice system will likely plea out most of the cases, and find a way to handle the caseload for those who want another “day in court.”
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The Governor’s Office has some ideas on how to best spend revenue surpluses revealed Monday by the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference. The REC found an additional $350-million for the current fiscal year, and another $100-million for the fiscal year that starts July 1st. Commissioner of Administration jay Dardenne says there are a lot of good uses for that extra money…:
Cut 7 (12) “…bridge in Baton Rouge…”
Dardenne says some of that money should also go toward a new I-10 bridge in Lake Charles and completing I-49 south to New Orleans. The new revenue estimates roughly $11-billion in General Fund dollars to spend on priorities, and Dardenne says one of those should also be paying the state’s teachers more…:
Cut 8 (07) “…a thousand dollars.”
Dardenne says he hopes lawmakers will give the administration’s proposal serious consideration before they finalize the state budget for the fiscal year that starts in July…:
Cut 9 (12) “…dollars are available.”
He says the spending proposal represents “critical moves” in moving Louisiana forward.
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Today marks the three-year anniversary of Ronald Greene’s death. The 49-year-old Black man died following a lengthy high-speed chase that ended in Union Parish. Two years later body camera video was released, showing Troopers stunning and punching Greene as he apologized. Paramedic Cindy Ott recently described when she arrived on the scene
At this time none of the troopers involved have been charged and Master Trooper Chris Hollingsworth has since died in a one-vehicle wreck. There’s a recording of Hollingsworth admitting he beat Greene with a flashlight.
Federal prosecutors have been looking into whether civil rights violations occurred and local district attorney John Belton says he plans to convene a grand jury once he receives the U-S Attorney’s Office investigative files. Belton told a legislative committee last month that he believes troopers involved committed criminal acts
Belton says he’ll provide an update on the case to the Greene family at 1 PM today.
Meanwhile, State Police remains under the microscope for its handling of Greene’s death and whether they tried to cover up details of how he died. A high-ranking state trooper, Lt. Colonel Kenny VanBuren, has said he believes there is a cover-up. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says they are still trying to get to the bottom of it…
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The CDC reports that the recent outbreak of bird flu seen in wild birds in 34 states, including Texas and Alabama, has not been detected in Louisiana. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries State Veterinarian Dr. Jim LaCour…
Cut 13 (11) “…it in Louisiana.”
At this time L-D-W-F says there is no reason for anyone to change or limit their outdoor or bird-related activities. Dr. LaCour says there are some basic measures you can take when dealing with our fine, feathered friends…
Cut 14 (12) “…waterers occasionally.”
There has only been one case nationally where a human was infected, a poultry industry worker experienced mild symptoms after being highly exposed on the job. The CDC says the risk of contracting avian flu is very low, and Dr. LaCour says that L-D-W-F will continue to monitor the situation statewide.