Loyola law clinic attorney Steve Singer is in hot water over a recent contempt of court charge, waiting to appeal his recent conviction for violating an Orleans Parish judge’s order.
In a Nov. 19 decision, the Louisiana Supreme Court overruled Criminal District Judge Frank Marullo’s order to remove law clinic staff attorney Bradley Black from an ongoing case.
Despite this decision, Marullo found Singer, chief of trials for the public defender system and a Loyola law professor, in contempt of court for asking Black to get involved with the case.
Singer’s appeal hearing is scheduled for Dec. 6.
According to reports from The Times-Picayune, the contempt charge stems from numerous rulings regarding Reese Sims, a 58-year-old man charged with felony theft of copper from a policeman’s home in July.
When Sims arrived at his court hearing Aug. 27, Marullo ruled that Sims was financially able to hire a lawyer and ordered Sims’ public defender, Joshua Perry, off the case. This decision was based on Sims’ “nice” appearance in the courtroom, according to the Picayune.
However, according to the Indigent Defender Board, Sims lost his home in Hurricane Katrina, drives a 1994 Buick and makes an income of $9,600 a year.
Singer then referred Sims to Black, who agreed to represent Sims pro bono.
Marullo charged Singer with contempt of court Nov. 15 for connecting Sims to Black.
When Singer went to court Nov. 19, his attorney Herbert Larson asked Marullo for a “symbolic sentence,” such as a $1 fine.
Marullo sentenced Singer to 30 days in jail, suspension during his jail time and an order to attend an ethics course. According to the Times-Picayune, Singer is guilty of constructive contempt of court and faces up to six months’ jail time and a $500 fine.
He originally took leave from the Loyola law clinic to revamp the post-Katrina public defender program.
Black declined an interview with The Maroon, as the Sims case is still ongoing.
Brian Bromberger, dean of Loyola’s College of Law, wrote in an e-mail to The Maroon, “As far as I am concerned the main issue is not whether or not Judge Marullo was right about the indigence of the accused, but whether Professor Singer was guilty of any form of contempt.”
Bromberger added, “Once Judge Marullo ruled the public defender must withdraw because the accused was not indigent, the public defender appealed the decision, yet abided by it. This is the way the law operates, and this is why professor Singer gave the accused the name of a private attorney who was prepared to take the case on a pro bono basis.”
Bromberger said this case is “an example of the difficulties encountered by anybody who makes a legitimate attempt to bring New Orleans into line with the rest of the country and rid it of some of the entrenched cronyism and financial waste that has gone on for decades.”
Rosie Dao can be reached at [email protected].
