# Has habeas corpus been suspended in LA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 1, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-habeas-corpus-been-suspended-in-la/319531 "2005-09-01T01:42:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-habeas-corpus-been-suspended-in-la/319531/1 "2005-09-01T01:42:22Z")
Has the writ of habeas corpus been suspended in New Orleans? Other parts of Louisiana? Does Louisiana even have habeas corpus (what with using the Napopeonic Code)? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-habeas-corpus-been-suspended-in-la/319531/2 "2005-09-01T02:13:58Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Has the writ of habeas corpus been suspended in New Orleans? Other parts of Louisiana? Does Louisiana even have habeas corpus (what with using the Napopeonic Code)? No. > [@](#): > > The Louisiana Attorney General’s office late Tuesday issued a number of clarifications concerning the “martial law” assertions made earlier in the day by local officials and law enforcement agents in the wake of devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. According to the AG’s office, no such term exists in Louisiana state law. The declaration of a state of emergency issued by Gov. Kathleen Blanco on Friday and set to continue for at least a month does, however, give officials power to suspend civil liberties in the process of restoring order, and the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act of 1993 gives the governor and heads of parishes power to commandeer property. Source: [http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2005/08/update-louisiana-martial-law.php](http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2005/08/update-louisiana-martial-law.php) > [@](#): > > GOVERNOR BLANCO DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY > > BATON ROUGE, LA–Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco today issued Proclamation No. 48 KBB 2005, declaring a state of emergency for the state Louisiana as Hurricane Katrina poses an imminent threat, carrying severe storms, high winds, and torrential rain that may cause flooding and damage to private property and public facilities, and threaten the safety and security of the citizens of the state of Louisiana The state of emergency extends from Friday, August 26, 2005, through Sunday, September 25, 2005, unless terminated sooner. > > The full text of Proclamation No. 48 KBB 2005 is as follows: > > WHEREAS, the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, R.S. 29:721, et seq., confers upon the governor of the state of Louisiana emergency powers to deal with emergencies and disasters, including those caused by fire, flood, earthquake or other natural or man-made causes, in order to ensure that preparations of this state will be adequate to deal with such emergencies or disasters and to preserve the lives and property of the citizens of the state of Louisiana; > > WHEREAS, when the governor finds a disaster or emergency has occurred, or the threat thereof is imminent, R.S. 29:724(B)(1) empowers her to declare the state of disaster or emergency by executive order or proclamation, or both; and > > WHEREAS, On August 26, 2005, Hurricane Katrina poses an imminent threat to the state of Louisiana, carrying severe storms, high winds, and torrential rain that may cause flooding and damage to private property and public facilities, and threaten the safety and security of the citizens of Louisiana; > > NOW THEREFORE I, KATHLEEN BABINEAUX BLANCO, > Governor of the state of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows: > > SECTION 1: Pursuant to the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, R.S. 29:721, et seq., a state of emergency is declared to exist in the state of Louisiana as Hurricane Katrina poses an imminent threat, carrying severe storms, high winds, and torrential rain that may cause flooding and damage to private property and public facilities, and threaten the safety and security of the citizens of the state of Louisiana; > > SECTION 2: The state of Louisiana’s emergency response and recovery program is activated under the command of the director of the state office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to prepare for and provide emergency support services and/or to minimize the effects of the storm’s damage. > > SECTION 3: The state of emergency extends from Friday, August 26, 2005, through Sunday, September 25, 2005, unless terminated sooner. > > ### Source: [404](http://gov.louisiana.gov/Press_Release_detail.asp?id=973) ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-habeas-corpus-been-suspended-in-la/319531/3 "2005-09-01T04:58:32Z")
The right of habeas corpus is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution: Article 1, Section 9 Clause 2: The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it. It’s also guaranteed in the Louisiana State Constitution Article 1, Clause 21 The writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended.