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.