(The Center Square) − The most recent session of the Louisiana Public Defender Oversight Board continued the drama with the state’s public defense system, as five district chiefs fought to keep their jobs amid allegations of retaliation and discrimination.
The hearing, held on Monday, revealed the tensions between the district chiefs and State Public Defender Rémy Starns, whom they accuse of targeting them for speaking out against his refusal to renew the contracts of several public defenders.
The five district chiefs — Michelle AndrePont (Caddo Parish), Trisha Ward (Evangeline Parish), Brett Brunson (Natchitoches Parish), Deirdre Fuller (Rapides Parish) and John Hogue (East Carroll, Madison and Tensas parishes) — claimed their contracts, set to expire July 1, were not renewed due to their public criticism of Starns.
Starns also proposed major cuts to their salaries. Brunson said that his salary would have been cut by $40,000.
Last year, the group opposed a bill granting Starns and Gov. Jeff Landry more control over the system and resisted his compensation plan.
Senate Bill 8 abolished the Louisiana Public Defender Board, which was replaced by the current board and transferred authority over the board to the executive branch.
“My termination is not just unwarranted. It’s retaliatory. It’s my punishment for speaking out and is at least in part because I’m a woman,” AndrePont said. Each other public defender made similar remarks.
Starns rejected the accusations outright.
“I completely and unequivocally deny any of the allegations made against me regarding discrimination on any purpose, for any reason,” Starns told the board. Starns insisted he hadn’t fired anyone, saying, “I non-renewed contracts. There’s been a lot of loose language thrown out here today about terminations. No such terminations ever took place.”
Backed by an opinion from Attorney General Liz Murrill, Starns argued the chiefs had no right to hearings since their contracts had simply lapsed.
The hearing coincided with significant shifts within the oversight board. Three members — Freddie Pitcher Jr., Ted Hernandez, and Peter Thomson — recently stepped down, with Pitcher citing “too much drama” as a reason.
Two new appointees, Jeffrey Hufft and Stephen Dwyer, both New Orleans-area attorneys, joined the Monday meeting.
The board has also clashed with Starns over his push to impose a new pay structure, which it rejected in favor of an existing plan mandated by state law.
Despite this, Starns has woven his plan into contracts for 30 other district chiefs, prompting board member Adrejia Boutté to call it a “statutory violation.”
