New Orleans municipal judges say Broad Street courthouse renovations near completion; highlight community court and online case resolution plans

Chief Judge Robert Jones of the New Orleans Municipal and Traffic Court told the City Council that the court expects to begin transitioning back to a renovated Broad Street courthouse in mid-November, operate simultaneously from both sites starting Dec. 1, and be fully operational at 727 S. Broad on Jan. 1.

Jones said case filings are up about 30% across criminal matters, DWIs and traffic tickets and described infrastructure problems that forced the court to leave the Broad Street facility after Ida. "Very shortly, we will return to a state of the art courthouse that will be a benefit to the community," Jones said.

Jones also described the court's community court, launched in 2024 to divert people with mental‑health, homelessness or employment challenges away from incarceration for certain nonviolent offenses. "We have admitted 400 participants into our program," Jones said, adding the court meets quarterly with an advisory board that includes council designees.

To support the community court docket and reduce in‑person appearances for routine matters, Jones said the court will roll out a case‑management system tailored to community‑court sensitivities and an online case resolution program for traffic matters such as contested speeding or tag violations. "So all these things have been ongoing in 2025," Jones said.

Council members thanked the judges for the community court initiative and for pursuing technology to ease burdens on residents and staff. Council discussion noted the court building is located in District B and several members requested invitations to the facility's reopening.

No formal council action or vote occurred during the presentation; judges were excused after questions and public comment.