Pubdate: Sat, 01 Sep 2001
Source: Advocate, The (LA)
Copyright: 2001 The Advocate, Capital City Press
Contact:  http://www.theadvocate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2
Author: Christopher Baughman

JUSTICES TARGET BR DRUG COURT

Judge Ordered To Defend Action

The state Supreme Court on Friday ordered Juvenile Court Judge Pam Taylor 
Johnson to explain what authority she had to open a drug court and 
treatment center and to show why both shouldn't be shut down.

Johnson must respond in writing by Sept. 17, according to the order signed 
by Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero Jr. on behalf of the entire Louisiana 
Supreme Court.

Johnson, reached late Friday afternoon at the East Baton Rouge Parish 
Juvenile Court, said she had not seen the high-court's order.

Johnson started the juvenile drug court in 1999 and opened Straight and 
Narrow Drug Treatment Center in 2000. The Supreme Court's order says she 
must show what legal authority she had to establish, operate, administer 
and supervise both programs.

LSU law Professor and former U.S. Attorney Ray Lamonica said the Supreme 
Court's "rule to show cause" is a way to ask Johnson to explain her actions.

"It's not a common practice for the Supreme Court to issue a rule to show 
cause to a lower court, but it has happened," he said.

The Supreme Court's order comes on the heels of a report it received from 
Juvenile Court Judge Pro Tempore Salvadore Mule. The high court installed 
Mule in February to take over the administration of the local juvenile court.

Mule has declined to talk about his report to the Supreme Court, and on 
Friday said he could not comment on the high court's order to Johnson.

Lamonica said the rule to show cause could be Johnson's chance to respond 
to Mule's report.

"Regardless of what Judge Mule recommended, this is giving her an 
opportunity to explain why the drug court and treatment center shouldn't be 
shut down," he said.

A recent series of articles in The Advocate revealed that the Straight and 
Narrow center has less than $60,000 left from $502,000 in taxpayer-funded 
grants designed to last until June 30, 2002.

Much of the grant money has gone to pay the salaries of the top two 
administrators at the treatment center and for travel to seminars around 
the country.

Other records revealed that at least one Straight and Narrow client was 
allowed to graduate from the program despite testing positive for marijuana 
on graduation day. Also, some Straight and Narrow clients apparently 
completed the program without being drug-tested for weeks.

Lamonica pointed out part of the Supreme Court's order, which says Johnson 
must explain why juveniles now enrolled at Straight and Narrow shouldn't be 
re-evaluated and sent to other clinics.

"The order indicates that they have a concern, and that she needs to 
address the nature of the treatment given to the juveniles at that center," 
he said.

Johnson hired local attorney Peter Q. John in April 2000 as treatment 
director of Straight and Narrow. Later that year she promoted him to 
administrator. John in turn hired Ferlenzo Holmes, his roommate and 
business partner, as treatment director.

They make about $118,000 a year between them, but neither is a licensed 
drug counselor. They supervise three others who make a total of $79,150 a year.

The Supreme Court justices are not the only people looking into Straight 
and Narrow.

U.S. Attorney Brian Jackson has said the FBI is investigating the 
application filed to get the federal grant, and also is scrutinizing how 
the money is being spent at Straight and Narrow.

On Friday, Jackson said the investigation is ongoing.

Also, state Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle has said his office probably would 
look into the treatment center. He commented after an independent auditing 
firm reported it could not render an opinion on the financial statements of 
the entire court because records at Straight and Narrow are in such disarray.

Straight and Narrow's administrators "are not familiar with the 
requirements for a proper accounting and internal control system," the 
audit says.
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