Lambert

Lawsuit Filed Against Ascension Parish Court Over “conviction Fee” That Partially Pays for Judge Salary

Public interest lawyers who sued an Ascension Parish Court judge last year over how her court’s bail system unfairly affected the poor have now taken aim at a “conviction fee” she imposes on defendants found guilty of minor offenses. In a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday in Baton Rouge on behalf of Gonzales-area resident Richard Williams, the lawyers claim the fee poses a conflict of interest for…