IG Seeks Review of Ex-Chief Municipal Judge's Hiring of Relatives; Their Wages Cost $39K Per Month
Although there appears to be no clearcut prohibition against employing family members, a New Orleans inspector general is asking the Louisiana Judiciary Commission to take a look what he calls “the appearance of abuse” created by a former chief municipal court judge’s hiring of 18 relatives and in-laws at a cost to the city of $39,000 per month during the past three years.
Several general judicial canons of ethics might apply to the hiring practices of Municipal Court Judge Paul Sens, said IG Ed Quatrevaux in a letter to the commission, reports WWLT.
“Building a family dynasty at the expense of the taxpayers of New Orleans creates an appearance of abuse that undermines public confidence in the judiciary and our elected officials,” wrote Quatrevaux.
Sens stepped down from the chief judge job last month, but remains on the bench. The article doesn’t include any comment from him or the commission.
