Remembering a Visionary

by Nick Richard

Judge Peter J. Garcia

The late Judge Peter J. Garcia, a lifetime resident of St. Tammany Parish, started one of the first drug courts in the State of Louisiana in 1998. In 2002, the 22nd Judicial District Court Drug Court was named by the U.S. Justice Department one of 16 mentor courts in the country to train courts across the country in the implementation of drug courts. Judge Garcia began the Behavioral Health Court in 2011 to provide case management and judicial supervision of individuals with mental health disorders within the criminal justice system.

As of today, there are seven specialty courts serving the 22nd Judicial District Court System. These problem-solving courts address the population in our community who would not necessarily be charged with criminal or civil charges should their behavioral needs be focused on. This not only reduces recidivism but helps direct clients to resources which more appropriately resolve their base issues, separately from the criminal justice system.

L to R: Hon. Alan Zaunbrecher, Hon. Vincent Lobello, Hon. Raymond Childress, Ret. Hon. William “Rusty” Knight; Seated Rear L to R: Hon. August Hand, Hon. William Buras, Ret. Hon. Mary Devereux, Hon. Scott Gardner, Commissioner Dan Foil.

The most recent addition to the 22nd JDC specialty courts is the Assistive Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Court, overseen by Judge Alan Zaunbrecher. This non-criminal court directs non-compliant clients into behavioral health care. These clients have had repeated hospitalizations because of untreated mental illness. The court provides case management, transportation and other services to help the clients recover successfully in a more structured environment. Before passing away in early 2020, Judge Garcia spent a great deal of time, research and travel to see this much-needed program evolve as part of the 22nd JDC specialty court roster. He would have been proud of the outcomes of this court thus far.

Thanks to the early initiatives of Judge Garcia, the breadth of the court system has grown to encompass the entire wellbeing of our community. Today, the judges of the 22nd JDC participate voluntarily in these specialty courts, in addition to their regular assignments, to assure the justice and other public needs of St. Tammany Parish are met.