Baton Rouge DA warns of possible lawsuit over funding crisis

District Attorney Hillar Moore says new funding still isn't enough to meet the needs of his office

Mar. 17, 2026 at 12:04am

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The Metro Council in Baton Rouge approved additional funding for the district attorney and public defender's offices, but District Attorney Hillar Moore said it still isn't enough to meet the needs of his office. Moore said he may have to file a civil lawsuit to force the city-parish to provide 'reasonable and necessary' funding for his office, as required by state law. Moore said his office has lost 36 assistant district attorneys in the past 16 months and is struggling with a backlog of 177 murder trials.

Why it matters

The funding crisis in the Baton Rouge district attorney's office highlights the ongoing challenges facing the criminal justice system, including high caseloads, staff shortages, and the need for adequate resources to effectively prosecute crimes and ensure due process. The potential lawsuit could force the city-parish to prioritize funding for the DA's office over other infrastructure projects.

The details

The Metro Council approved an additional $850,000 for the district attorney's office and $500,000 for the public defender's office, which District Attorney Hillar Moore plans to use to provide raises for staff who have not received one in three years. However, Moore said his office remains dangerously understaffed, with 36 assistant district attorneys leaving in the past 16 months. The office currently has 55 positions for assistant district attorneys, and Moore said they have been unable to fill open positions despite offering $60,000 salaries. The shortage of prosecutors has led to a backlog of 177 murder trials, with prosecutors spending most of their time in court and having little time to prepare for complex cases.

  • The Metro Council approved the additional funding on Wednesday, March 17, 2026.
  • In the past 16 months, the district attorney's office has lost 36 assistant district attorneys.

The players

Hillar Moore

The District Attorney of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who is warning of a possible lawsuit over the funding crisis in his office.

Sid Edwards

The Mayor-President of Baton Rouge, who proposed adding $850,000 to the district attorney's office budget and $500,000 to the public defender's office budget.

Mason Batts

The spokesman for the Baton Rouge mayor's office, who said the potential lawsuit limits what city officials feel comfortable saying publicly about the situation.

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What they’re saying

“This action is not something that I look forward to doing. However for the financial stability of our office and the protection of the public, I must consider doing so very soon.”

— Hillar Moore, District Attorney (Unfiltered with Kiran)

“We're drowning in cases.”

— Hillar Moore, District Attorney (Unfiltered with Kiran)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow District Attorney Hillar Moore to file a civil lawsuit against the city-parish to force them to provide 'reasonable and necessary' funding for his office.

The takeaway

The funding crisis in the Baton Rouge district attorney's office highlights the ongoing challenges facing the criminal justice system, including high caseloads, staff shortages, and the need for adequate resources to effectively prosecute crimes and ensure due process. The potential lawsuit could force the city-parish to prioritize funding for the DA's office over other infrastructure projects, but it also raises questions about the long-term sustainability of the criminal justice system and the need for comprehensive funding solutions.