Court Watch NOLA Releases Latest Report Demonstrating Significant Systemic Change in Orleans Parish Criminal District Courts

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Court Watch NOLA Releases Latest Report Demonstrating Significant Systemic Change in Orleans Parish Criminal District Courts

Organization Proves Citizens Can Improve Efficiency and Transparency

in New Orleans Criminal Courts

Please click here for the report in PDF format . 

New Orleans, LA – August 18, 2009 – New Orleans non-profit Court Watch NOLA released its semi-annual report for the period of January – June 2009 verifying that the citizens of New Orleans can effect positive systemic change. The organization promotes efficiency and accountability within the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court system through greater transparency by having trained volunteer observers monitor cases involving violent crimes as well as other cases and related proceedings.

In the first half of 2009, the volunteers monitored 991 court settings which applied to the roughly 500 serious felony cases, including all crimes of violence. The volunteers measured efficiency in court proceedings, including final disposition rate, continuance rate, and preparedness of all parties (judges, prosecution, defense, NOPD, sheriffs).

“We believe the citizens of New Orleans are better served by an efficient criminal justice system. When Court Watch NOLA was formed in 2007, we believed that the presence of citizen observers in the courtrooms would improve case processing efficiency, and we designed a court watch model around this mission. With these latest statistics, our mission is validated by the measurement of real systemic change that has been effected: Court Watch NOLA has been the catalyst for that change,” says Andrea St. Paul Bland, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the organization.

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According to Court Watch NOLA’s latest report calculating data from January – June 2009 compared to data in July – December 2008:

·        Volunteer observations increased to 991 court settings, up from 928 proceedings

·        The number of case settings that got continued dropped from 61% to 43%

·        The rate of final dispositions increased from 11% to 17%

·        Percent of trial settings resulting in final disposition – plea or trial – increased from 30% to 46%

Court Watch NOLA differentiates itself from similar organizations in other states because it strives for efficiency and transparency in the court system as opposed to advocating for an outcome in a case or victims’ rights. The organization is led by a seasoned criminal lawyer, Executive Director Graham Da Ponte, who has over 20 years experience as a trial and appellate attorney.  Da Ponte trains all volunteers to ensure they are knowledgeable about the court system and have the ability to monitor cases. 

“In just two years, we’ve increased our volunteer base from 15 to 110 people and we’ve gone from monitoring 37 cases to 500,” says Da Ponte. “As a direct result of our volunteer court watchers monitoring proceedings, the system has improved.  There are significantly less cases being continued and more final dispositions, resulting in a decrease in backlog of cases. We’ve already exceeded our original goals.  The numbers speak for themselves. We have proven that the community can step in and make a difference.”

For more information on Court Watch NOLA, please visit www.courtwatchnola.org.

For media inquiries, please contact Jennifer Bond at Bond PR and Brand Strategy at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 504-897-0462.

Court Watch NOLA was created by The New Orleans Crime Coalition, Citizens for One Greater New Orleans, and Common Good. These organizations are comprised of diverse civic leaders and community groups dedicated to improving the quality of life and reducing violent crime in the Greater New Orleans area.

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