Despite public pleas for greater oversight of government agencies, an opinion by Attorney General Buddy Caldwell concludes that the powers of Jefferson Parish's new inspector general should not extend beyond oversight of the parish government itself.
To do so would violate the state Constitution, according to the opinion.
That argument, sent Wednesday to Parish President John Young, means that the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, School Board, coroner, district attorney, clerk of court and the parish's six incorporated municipalities are excluded from the inspector general's reach.
"That's pretty much what we expected," Parish Attorney Deborah Foshee said. "The rationale is these are independent bodies."
Still, it contradicts the recommendations of a review committee formed last year to establish guidelines for creating an inspector general's office.
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