In an appeal brought by New Orleans Legal Assistance, the state 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that domestic violence victims can't be charged or taxed with the court costs for protective orders. In the case appealed, the indigent victim was charged $1,500 for her protective orders even though the lower court had ruled in her favor on many occasions.

The ruling will help increase the access of victims to our courts for protection from physical abuse. Charles Delbaum, Roxanne Newman and Mark Moreau handled the appeal.