Police Probe Dumped Orleans Criminal Court Records

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has ordered the State Police to investigate the illegal dumping of Orleans Parish Criminal Court records, with two large trailers of files, including those tied to capital murder and aggravated rape cases, found in a landfill. Clerk of Court Darren Lombard claims the city moved and disposed of the records without proper notice or authorization, resulting in many documents being permanently lost despite recovery attempts. State officials, including Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill, have condemned the incident and called for accountability. Former Clerk Arthur Morrell pointed out that judicial approval is legally required for such destruction, suggesting possible criminal conduct. The episode has drawn attention to ongoing storage problems and the lack of a secure facility for court records. The city is now cooperating with the Clerk’s Office, and a digitization effort is set to begin soon.