(The Center Square) − U.S. District Court Judge Susie Morgan said Thursday she is prepared to lift the consent decree that has governed the New Orleans Police Department since 2013, a move backed by both the Trump administration and city officials.
Morgan indicated she would terminate the sweeping federal agreement if the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals returns the case to her jurisdiction. The decision comes at the joint request of the city and the Department of Justice, marking the first time both have aligned on ending the 12-year-old reform mandate.
The decree, signed under former Mayor Mitch Landrieu following a blistering Justice Department report that found systemic misconduct, discrimination, and excessive force, required the Police Department to revamp nearly every aspect of its operations. Over the years, it brought strict federal monitoring, new training programs, and detailed accountability systems that reshaped the department’s internal culture.
Thursday’s order reflects a shift in federal posture. Under the Trump administration, the Department of Justice has distanced itself from police consent decrees in several cities, saying local departments should be free from ongoing federal control once substantial compliance is reached. Department of Justice lawyers now agree with Cantrell that New Orleans has achieved the benchmarks required to exit oversight.
Earlier this year, Morgan rejected Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s push to end the decree immediately, opting instead for a two-year “sustainment period” meant to ensure that reforms were not only in place but durable. The Cantrell administration appealed that ruling, sending the case to the 5th Circuit and limiting Morgan’s authority to act.
“After more than 12 years, a judge has finally ruled the consent decree in New Orleans can come to an end,” Gov. Jeff Landry said in a statement. “I know President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi both agree with me that the federal government should not be running the New Orleans Police Department. It is time to get this done.”
