Attorney Franz Borghardt did not mince words during this week’s Legally Served segment. What began as a discussion of a single article quickly turned into a deep dive into alleged dysfunction inside East Baton Rouge Family Court.
Borghardt explained that concerns trace back to a legislative resolution questioning whether the family court operated efficiently and fairly. That resolution prompted the Louisiana Supreme Court to appoint retired Judge John Coon to review court operations. He was given a temporary docket and broad authority to assess the system.
Problems followed. Cases from other divisions were reassigned to Judge Coon without clear explanation. Family court attorneys and judges questioned the authority for those moves. Borghardt said the Supreme Court order did not authorize the scope of actions taken.
The situation escalated after a recorded conversation surfaced. In that recording, Justice John Michael Guidry Hughes, Judge Coon, and a state legislator discussed case transfers. According to Borghardt, the recording suggests cases were reassigned after complaints from politically connected individuals. He emphasized that even if the recording is inadmissible in court, its content raises serious ethical concerns.
Judge Coon later rescinded all of his orders before leaving the assignment. That decision wiped out months of rulings. Families were left facing uncertainty. Legal fees were effectively wasted. Cases had to start over.
The Louisiana Supreme Court later issued a formal report recommending procedural changes. The report did not substantiate claims of corruption. Despite that, Justice Hughes issued a separate seven-page letter implying misconduct. Borghardt criticized the letter for lacking citations or specific findings.
He also raised alarms about separation of powers. Borghardt argued that legislators and Supreme Court justices should not influence individual family court cases. Custody disputes involve children and sensitive decisions. Political pressure, he said, has no place in that process.
Borghardt called the situation chaotic and damaging. Instead of fixing problems, he said, the actions taken created deeper instability and undermined trust in the court system.