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At Glago Williams, we don't just practice law in New Orleans—we are part of this community. We live here, we raise our families here, and we show up every day to fight for the people of this city. So when legislation reaches the Louisiana Senate that could fundamentally undermine access to justice for New Orleanians, we don't stay silent.

That's exactly why one of our attorneys, Mark Glago, testified before the Louisiana Senate in opposition to Senate Bill 217.

 

What Was Senate Bill 217?

Senate Bill 217, authored by Sen. Jay Morris (R-Monroe), sought to reduce the number of judges serving Orleans Parish — including, in its original form, eliminating multiple Civil Court judgeships. The bill was part of a broader package of legislation backed by Governor Jeff Landry aimed at restructuring New Orleans' court system.

The bill's stated rationale was that New Orleans had a disproportionately high number of judges relative to other parishes. Supporters argued this was about efficiency, cost savings, and alignment with the rest of the state.

Mark went to Baton Rouge to challenge that rationale directly — on every point.

Mark's Testimony: Challenging the Arguments

Mark has practiced civil law in Louisiana for about 30 years. He knows this court system came prepared to defend Orleans Parish and its judges.

He opened simply: "I'm not here for any political interests. No party affiliation."

 

On fiscal savings: Supporters of SB 217 claimed the bill would save approximately $500,000 per judge — potentially $5 million across the judgeships being cut. Mark pointed directly to the bill's own fiscal report: "It says it can't determine the amount of savings. We know why they can't determine it — because of the effect it's going to have." Cutting judges doesn't just eliminate salaries. It slows the courts, creates backlogs, and generates downstream costs that no fiscal note can easily capture.

On efficiency: This one Mark found particularly hard to square. "You want to get rid of frivolous lawsuits? How do you do that? Judges — judges have to dismiss it via summary judgment." Fewer judges means slower dismissals, longer dockets, and more time before cases resolve.

On public safety: Mark pushed back on the criminal court reductions as well. "Crime costs money. You want to reduce and slow down criminal court? How do you sentence somebody to jail time without a judge? We all know it's going to increase crime. Is that what we want?"

On the study used to justify the bill: When SB 217's author referenced research to support the cuts, Mark had a pointed observation. The study had been produced just weeks before the hearing — but the bill had been filed months earlier. "I hope people listening don't believe this was filed based on a study."

On why Orleans Parish was singled out: The bill's author had described Orleans Parish's judge count as "borders on ridiculous" and "off the chart egregious." Mark's response was direct: "It's not off the chart egregious. Even if you think it is — it's not gonna save you money, it's not gonna help the courts. It's gonna increase crime."

He closed with a challenge to every senator in the room: "When voting for this bill, ask yourself — what purpose does this bill serve? No purpose whatsoever."

What Happened

That pushback — from Mark and from other practitioners and advocates who testified — made a difference. Before the final Senate vote, Sen. Morris amended the bill to remove the cuts to Orleans Parish Civil Court entirely. The bill that passed on April 20, 2026 by a 27-9 vote no longer eliminates the civil court judgeships it originally targeted.

That is a real outcome. It is not the end of the fight — the amended bill still reduces criminal court judges from 12 to nine, and related legislation continues to move through the Louisiana House. But the preservation of the Civil Court judgeships is a direct result of attorneys and community members showing up and making their case.

Why This Matters for Our Clients

At Glago Williams, we handle personal injury civil litigation cases. Our clients come to us in the aftermath of accidents and injuries — often at the hardest moments of their lives. A functioning, adequately staffed civil court  is the foundation that makes it possible for us to deliver real results for the people who trust us.

When that foundation is threatened, we have a responsibility to say something. And we will continue to do so.

We Are Here for New Orleans

Glago Williams stands on the belief that every person deserves a fierce advocate and a fair shot at justice. That belief doesn't stop at our office door. If you have questions about how changes to the Louisiana court system might affect your case, or if you've been injured and want to speak with someone who will fight for you, we're here.