Deep Dive into OPPJ
Disclaimer: I’m not an attorney. This is just my understanding based on public documents.
- All of the sitting judges in the 4th Judicial District Court are listed as plaintiffs in a separate lawsuit against the Ouachita Parish Police Jury (OPPJ).
- Because of that lawsuit, they stepped aside (recused themselves) from the Frost Tower case to avoid any appearance of conflict.
- Court revenue from fines and fees has gone down in recent years.
- The judges asked OPPJ for more funding to help cover expenses.
- OPPJ increased funding for the judges from about $118,000 in 2022 to $525,000 in 2023.
- Budget documents also show the Parish’s General Fund is under increasing financial pressure.
To better understand the financial side, I’ve submitted a public records request asking for:
– Payments made to outside lawyers (2023 to now)
– Contracts and invoices for those legal services
– Budget line items for legal expenses
This isn’t about picking sides. It’s about understanding what’s happening and how taxpayer dollars are being used.
I’ll continue sharing updates as documents come in — and I’ll stick to what can be proven.
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