Electrical failure shuts down New Orleans Municipal and Traffic Court indefinitely [Video]

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The Orleans Parish Municipal and Traffic Court is closed indefinitely due to an electrical failure.

A court spokesperson said power went out Tuesday (Oct. 8) at 3:50 p.m., but a press release announcing Wednesday’s closure was not sent until 9:20 p.m. When asked why, the spokesperson said she “had to do everything from home.”

Many people arriving Wednesday with a court summons were unaware that power issues closed the facility. One man said he drove from Bay St. Louis, Miss.

“My last court date for this ticket was the last hurricane (Francine), when they postponed it and gave us all new court dates,” David Delcuze said.

New Orleans City Council members echoed the public’s frustration.

“Obviously, for buildings that are servicing so many people, we have to make sure we are maintaining their functionality,” Councilman Joe Giarrusso said.

Councilman Oliver Thomas said, “We have to make sure that, especially, essential services like traffic court and …