Former Independent Police Monitor Susan Hutson was endorsed today by more than 25 criminal justice reform advocates in her race to replace long-time Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman. The group includes community advocates, grassroots organizers, legal experts and other key leaders with a wealth of knowledge in criminal justice reform.
Norris Henderson and Sade Dumas, co-chairs of the PAC for Justice, issued strong statements in support of Hutson’s candidacy. “I worked closely with Susan Hutson throughout her time serving our community as the Independent Police Monitor,” said Henderson. “I firmly believe she will implement the change we need for the Orleans Sheriff’s Office. Susan will bring accountability, transparency, and most importantly, a focus on care, to the New Orleans jail.”
“As a native New Orleanian who is directly impacted by mass incarceration in my community, I am familiar with the horrid jail conditions and the need for transformation at the facility,” said Dumas. “As a member of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement, I know the changes needed to make the Orleans Parish jail a constitutional facility. Susan Hutson is the expert best suited to bring much-needed change and accountability to the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and that’s why I am supporting Susan for sheriff.”
Civil rights lawyer Katie Schwartzmann called Hutson a smart, inspiring and genuine person. “Under Susan’s leadership, we finally have a chance to fix one of the most broken and dangerous public institutions.” Former public defender Will Snowden said, “Susan Hutson understands what civilians expect out of law enforcement and leadership of a jail.”
Additional endorsers include Alfred Marshall, Alison McCrary, Dr. Anita Zervigon-Hakes, Ben Zucker, Bruce Reilly, Jamila Johnson, Jerome Morgan, Jon Wool, Laura Bixby, Lynda Woolard, Maria Harmon, Meg Garvey, Melanie Morel-Ensminger, Mercedes Montagnes, Nikki Thanos, Rachel Gassert, Robert Jones, Sage Michael, Dr. Vern Baxter, Will Harrell, and Yasin Frank Southall.
A Louisiana state political action committee, the PAC for Justice, was founded in 2020 to elect reformers into the justice system in New Orleans while building an aligned base of organizers and activists. In 2020, the PAC for Justice supported the Flip the Bench slate.
