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Citizen's Groups and Advocates Gather to Monitor Danziger Proceeding Victims' Families, Residents Fear a Travesty of Justice

Section: Community

Evelyn Lynn

Press Release

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Citizen's Groups and Advocates Gather to Monitor Danziger Proceeding

Victims' Families, Residents Fear a Travesty of Justice

(New Orleans) Judge Raymond Bigelow will make a ruling on the controversial Danziger case today in criminal court. Seven police officers are accused of attacking innocent families as they fled to safety in the aftermath of Katrina. This incident left four victims injured and James Brissette and Ronald Madison dead. Safe Streets/Strong Communities, other community groups and dozens of New Orleans residents will gather to monitor the proceedings and support the victims' families.

This ruling comes on the heels of weeks of high profile incidents of police violence and misconduct in New Orleans and across the nation. "The Danziger case is yet another example of a police department in crisis and a criminal justice system unwilling to keep them in check. What kind of a message does it send when people who commit murders are treated with kid gloves simply because they wear a badge," said Norris Henderson, Co-Director of the community group Safe Streets/Strong Communities.

"When our brother was murdered, our family looked to the criminal justice system for a swift, fair and just response. We couldn't be more disappointed with how this case has been handled," said Romell Madison, brother of murdered victim Ronald Madison. Since the beginning of its prosecution, the Danziger case has been clouded with missteps and mistakes at all levels including seemingly altered police reports, compromised evidence and serious conflicts of interest on the bench.

These conflicts primarily involve members of Judge Bigelow's staff including:

Clerk Emily DeSalvo Blackburn is the daughter of attorney Frank DeSalvo who is representing one defendant in the case. She is also the sister and wife of Frank DeSalvo's law partners.
Clerk Claire Livacarri is married to Donovan Livacarri who is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police's Executive Board and sometimes "Danziger 7" spokesperson. In May, he was accused in two separate hit and run incidents and was represented in the media by attorney Frank DeSalvo.
In 2005, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that law clerk, Mike Riehlman, be publicly reprimanded for ethical violations because he did not disclose knowledge of tampered evidence in the case of John Thompson. Thompson was just days away from execution when the defense discovered new evidence which exonerated him. His civil suit resulted in a $14 million dollar judgment against the DA's office.

The Madison family has tried several avenues to get Judge Bigelow removed from this case but have been unsuccessful. "Close family relationships between accused officers and members of Bigelow's staff, along with several questionable rulings, have led us to believe the Judge's ability to be fair and unbiased is compromised. We have lost all faith in our justice system," said Romell Madison.

"Unfortunately this is not an isolated incident. The Danziger case is just one example of many that show that violence at the hands of police and system-wide cover ups and corroboration have become the rule not the exception," said Robert Goodman, Safe Streets staff person and brother of another unarmed mentally handicapped man killed by the NOPD in a separate incident.

Safe Streets/Strong Communities is a community-based organization that campaigns for a new criminal justice system in New Orleans, one the builds safe streets and strong communities for everyone regardless of race or economic status.

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