New Orleans Police Department

Mistrust of New Orleans police affecting trials at Criminal District Court

Published: Monday, July 18, 2011, 2:30 PM

By Times-Picayune Staff The Times-Picayune

Times-Picayune archiveDistrict Attorney Leon Cannizzaro says he wants to show criminals what-for and restore public trust in a justice system dogged by scandal.

"I served on a jury this spring in what should have been an open and shut case but none of the jurors, black or white trusted the police work in the case. Many of the jurors have knowledge of how the NOPD conducts its business and the question came up repeatedly when we were considering police testimony.
"We finally convicted but only because we could do it by completely disregarding police work and testimony."
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