The District Attorney of Orleans Parish is an elected position under the state constitution. The DA and staff appear before state criminal judges to argue cases which include all the criminal prosecutions in the city. The only qualification to be DA is to have been admitted before the bar for at least five years and lived in the district for two years.

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In 2002 the people of Orleans Parish elected Eddie Jordan by a 52%-48% runoff margin over Dale Atkins to be their new District Attorney. He replaced Harry Connick, Sr. who had been DA for 30 years. Connick replaced Jim Garrison in 1973. Jordan, a Morial and Jefferson ally, traded on his name recognition and credentials earned as US Attorney under Clinton where he had supervised the successful prosecution of Edwin Edwards.

As might be expected when contacts are more important than competence, controversy marred Jordan's term. From day one of his term when he fired 43 white investigators and other employees, through the hurricane and its aftermath, he has proven lacking. One City Council member called for his resignation in April, 2007. 

In addition to poor prosecutorial performance reflected in low acceptance and conviction rates, Jordan's office has had a confrontational relationship with the police and city administration, has been criticized by the press and by congressional investigators, and has been struggling with the lawsuit and appeals related to his employment discrimination civil suit. His lack of judgment and performance in the high profile Danziger Bridge and Ana Pou / Memorial Hospital murder cases are typical.

Inept performance in the DA's office contributes to a belief throughout the community that the entire Criminal Justice System is "broken," perhaps irreparably so.

Under severe pressure from state and local officials related a judge's ruling that the plaintiffs in his civil rights discrimination lawsuit could begin seizing the DA's assets, Jordan resigned on October 30, 2007. Eddie Jordan is no longer DA!

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Elections in November 2008 resulted in a new DA being elected in New Orleans. Leon Cannizzaro takes over amid budget disputes and additional financial stress relating from judgments against Eddie Jordan and Harry Connick. Mayor Nagin chops $1.3 million from the DA's budget, the council reinstates the money, who knows what will happen next.