Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-12-13

Duration: 00:28:11

Subjects: Edwards, Edwin W. | TRIALS

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Jeffress, William Interviewee
• Volz, John Interviewee
• Rowley, Bob Interviewee
• Kennedy, Michael Interviewee
• Vidrine, Clyde Interviewee
• Cobb, Jim Interviewee
• Houck, Oliver Interviewee
• Neal, James Interviewee
• Picard, Cecil Interviewee
• D'Gerolamo, Eddie Interviewee
• Gunter, Carl, Jr. Interviewee
• Dewitt, Charles Interviewee
• Newman, Jewel Interviewee
• Isbell, Charles Interviewee
• Segura, Perry Interviewee
• Brooks, Philip Interviewee
• Unglesby, Lewis Interviewee
• Rutter, Thomas Interviewee
• Fawer, Mike Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from December 13, 1985, features three special reports on the thirteenth week of the trial of Governor Edwin Edwards and seven other defendants in New Orleans on fraud and racketeering charges related to the permitting process for building new hospitals and nursing homes. Laura Myers first reports on the closing arguments and the ongoing jury deliberations. She interviews: William Jeffress, defense attorney; United States Attorney John Volz; Bob Rowley of the Chicago Tribune; Michael Kennedy of the Los Angeles Times; Clyde Vidrine, an author and former friend of Governor Edwards; Jim Cobb, attorney; Oliver Houck, a professor at the Tulane University Law School; and James Neal, defense attorney. Next, Ken Johnson reports on the reactions of Louisiana residents and state legislators to the trial. He interviews: State Senator Cecil Picard; State Representative Eddie D’Gerolamo; State Representative Carl Gunter, Jr.; State Representative Charles Dewitt; and State Representative Jewel Newman. Lastly, Myers reports on the judge’s acquittal of three of the defendants. She interviews: Charles Isbell, former defendant; Perry Segura, former defendant; Philip Brooks, former defendant; Lewis Unglesby, defense attorney; Thomas Rutter, defense attorney; Mike Fawer, defense attorney; and U.S. Attorney Volz.