Judge Charles Elloie was an exceptional Orleans Parish judge. Elected in 1995 and reelected in 2002, he displayed an unusual willingness to let prisoners out of jail with little or no bail. It appears that his philosophy was that there are too many people in jail and he ought to let some out. That might not be a bad idea. It's just that he consistently let violent, repeat offenders out of jail and they went on to commit more crimes.  He continued this practice until October 2006 when he was suspended by the La. Supreme Court. In June 2007, he announced his retirement, much to the satisfaction of the Police and the Metropolitan Crime Commission.

The police were pretty frustrated with this judge. He even reached beyond his own docket to release suspects assigned to other courts.  He was censured by the La. Ethics Board (Supreme Court)  in 2005 for issuing an order in 2002 to expunge the record in the case of a negligent homicide to which the defendant plead guilty.

In 2003 he released a first degree murder suspect who then went on the street and got in a gun fight which resultied in the killing an 18 year old bystander. Elloie seemed moved by that one enough to announce he would stop reducing bail for violent criminals.

In March 2006 he released a suspect on a recognizance bond who had been picked up by the police while in possession of six ounces of cocaine, two assault rifles, a Tec-9 with silencer, four other pistols and $189,000 in cash. He says he doesn't remember who asked him to release this guy and claims he wasn't aware of the guns, money or the amount of drugs involved.

The Metropolitan Crime Commission reports that Elloie alone was responsible for 83% of the bail reductions in Orleans:

"An analysis of the data gathered for this report clearly shows that the bond release practices of one judge, Charles Elloie, undermine the role of Magistrate Court. He is one of twelve elected section judges and the only judge who systematically aids the release of arrested subjects outside the bond setting procedures applied by the remainder of the court. Judge Elloie is responsible for modifying the bail bond and/or setting the bond of one out of four (25%) defendants released on bond in New Orleans for state charges. Defendants released through the intervention of Judge Elloie have gone on to be arrested for numerous additional crimes while out on bail, crimes that include murder, armed robbery, and drug distribution."

Not finished yet, Elloie released another violent suspect in August 2006. This guy had just shot a man in the ankle and the back. He turned himself in, and Elloie set bail at $30,000. The man rustled up $3,600 and was released from Central Lockup. Within days he shot the same man again (this criminal is either a very bad shot or was just sending a message because the man survived again.) In an ironic twist, the police are not releasing the victim's name in order to "protect" him (?). Elloie set bail again, this time at $200,000. The shooter could be on the streets again soon, but it will cost considerably more to take another shot.  I think he knows the victim's name

Finally on October 12, 2006 the La. Supreme Court stepped in and suspended Judge Elloie as recommended by the La. Judiciary Committee. Now there will be more hearings leading to an ultimate decision by the La. Supreme Court. In June 2007 Elloie's retirement was announced.