🚨SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CALLS FAMILY COURT ABUSES “WORST” OF HIS 47-YEAR CAREER BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jeff Hughes has delivered a sharply critical report on the East Baton Rouge Parish Family Court system, describing its practices as the most troubling he has seen in nearly five decades in the legal profession. In a detailed report submitted to state legislators, Justice Hughes documented what he characterized as systemic failures within the family court, citing patterns of favoritism, coercion, lack of transparency, and financial exploitation that he said undermine the best interests of children and families. Hughes was asked to study the court following widespread complaints from litigants, attorneys, and lawmakers. “This is the worst thing I’ve seen in my 47-year legal career,” Hughes wrote. SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED According to the report, the issues are both structural and cultural. Hughes wrote that all family cases are handled by a small group of judges, while a limited number of attorneys repeatedly appear before them day after day, creating what he described as a closed system. Among the concerns cited: • Judges and attorneys allegedly socializing together outside of court while handling the same cases • Status conferences being used in place of formal hearings, sometimes outside the courthouse • Decisions affecting custody and visitation made without evidentiary proceedings • Parents pressured into agreements under threat of contempt or incarceration • Pro se litigants treated dismissively by court staff • Extended delays that separate parents from children until one party “stipulates” or withdraws Hughes stated that while favoritism is often dismissed as perception, his findings suggest that in some instances the line has crossed into actual favoritism. CONTEMPT, COERCION, AND COSTS The report describes contempt proceedings as a tool frequently used to force compliance rather than address legal violations, with attorney’s fees routinely shifted onto one party. Hughes cited cases where fees ranged from $10,000 to nearly $80,000, sometimes exceeding the underlying child support dispute. He also raised concerns about psychological evaluations and therapy being ordered at the discretion of judges, often at significant cost to parents, with limited oversight or review. “These mechanisms,” Hughes wrote, “are used to beat the non-favored parent into submission.” TRANSCRIPT FEES QUESTIONED Hughes further reported that East Baton Rouge Family Court is charging $6.50 per page for transcripts, despite state law limiting the charge to $1.50 per page. He noted that the court itself collects a portion of the higher fee. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REFORM In response to his findings, Hughes urged lawmakers to consider legislative and structural reforms, including: • Live-streaming and cameras in family court proceedings • Opening custody hearings to the public unless all parties agree otherwise • Requiring each party to pay their own attorney’s fees • Limiting continuances that prolong separation between parents and children • Referring substantiated favoritism or quid pro quo conduct to criminal authorities Hughes warned that current practices risk violating constitutional protections and erode public confidence in the judicial system. BROADER NATIONAL IMPLICATIONS The concerns raised in Louisiana echo similar calls for greater transparency in family courts across the country. Advocates and reform efforts in other states, including Oklahoma, are increasingly pushing for courtroom transparency, including cameras, because justice should not be hidden. WHAT COMES NEXT The report has been submitted to Louisiana legislators for review. While individual judges cannot be removed during their terms, Hughes noted that broader structural changes — including potential reorganization or dissolution of the Family Court — remain within the Legislature’s authority. The full report has been made available to lawmakers and the public. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post referred to Justice Jeff Hughes as “retired.” He is an Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court. The story has been updated for accuracy.