One of only two public entrances to the Lafayette Parish Courthouse has been closed since around mid-December due to a funding dispute between the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lafayette Consolidated Government.
Sheriff Mark Garber in a Nov. 20 letter notified lead 15th Judicial District Court Judge Susan Theall, Clerk of Court Louis Perret and District Attorney Don Landry that he was closing one of the public entrances and reducing security staff at the courthouse by one deputy.
He did not notify LCG officials.
For years there had been two entrances the public could use at the courthouse. Each was staffed with one or two sheriff’s deputies operating machines that checked bags and people for contraband such as weapons, lighters and smart phones.
John Mowell, spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said the sheriff is mandated by law to pay the salaries of bailiffs in courtrooms, not the entire courthouse, including the entrances.
With money short, the sheriff’s office closed one of the entrances, he said.
LCG owns the courthouse and Lafayette Parish Correctional Center. The Sheriff operates the jail. Both entities receive local tax revenue.
LCG receives tax dollars for the courthouse fund that pays for the courthouse, parking garage and jail, and another tax for the jail.
The sheriff’s office in mid-2025 asked for additional money from LCG after the 2025-26 budget was already under review by the council. LCG decided not to consider the funding increase.
Among the things the sheriff’s office wanted was more money for the deputies who man the entrances to the courthouse. He said they had not received a cost-of-living pay raise since 2019.
When the council did not approve the additional funding, Garber shut down one public entrance at the courthouse and reassigned two deputies because the LPSO, Mowell said, was short-staffed elsewhere.
“We’re hopeful LCG and the council address this issue as soon as they can,” Mowell said. “In the meantime, we’re going to adapt to the budget we have.”
LCG officials and court officials declined to comment.
