A court watchdog group says a judge in New Orleans often interferes with criminal defendants' rights to counsel by sharply limiting the time public defenders spend with newly arrested defendants making their first court appearance.
The criticism of state district court Magistrate Judge Harry Cantrell comes in a report released Wednesday by Court Watch NOLA, which observes and reports on New Orleans' criminal courtrooms.
Earlier this year, a civil rights group filed a pending federal lawsuit accusing Cantrell of unconstitutionally setting high bonds for indigent defendants.
The Court Watch NOLA report calls for several reforms in New Orleans' magistrate court, where criminal defendants make early appearances and where bails are set.
Magistrate court is presided over by Cantrell, who is elected, and four commissioners appointed by 13 criminal court judges.