Staff members from the Orleans Parish Clerk of Criminal District Court had to engage in a challenging task this week, as they went to the Gentilly Landfill to recover court records that were mistakenly discarded by city employees. Clerk Darren Lombard confirmed that the effort took place over two days, emphasizing the extensive and messy nature of the work involved.
The discarded records, which were originally stored at a maintenance yard by the City of New Orleans’ Department of Public Works, require preservation due to the critical implications of the cases they contain. Lombard highlighted the importance of these records, stating that access is necessary for citizens needing to review potentially significant legal issues.
Although the team managed to salvage approximately 60 cases of files, there remains an unknown number of documents unaccounted for. This incident has prompted incoming Chief Administrative Officer Joe Threat to launch an investigation, as both he and Lombard expressed confusion over how such a mistake could occur.
Lombard mentioned ongoing efforts to secure financial support from the city to consolidate file storage and alleviate space constraints. There are also discussions about finding a new warehouse to help accommodate the storage needs, a challenge not only faced by the Clerk’s office but also by other agencies.
The salvaged documents are now returned securely to the Public Works site. However, officials from Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration and the City Planning Commission did not respond to inquiries for comments regarding this situation.
This incident highlights the critical need for effective management and preservation of public records, ensuring that vital information is accessible when needed.