NEW ORLEANS — The trial of Tyrell Morris, the former director of the Orleans Parish 911 center, is set to commence Monday. Morris faces charges stemming from a 2022 incident involving a vehicle crash on his birthday, which he allegedly attempted to conceal as part of an insurance fraud scheme.
Jury selection will take place in Judge Simone Levine’s courtroom as legal proceedings begin at 9 a.m. The accident, unknown to Morris at the time, was captured by a city-operated surveillance camera, which later became central to the investigation. Footage reviewed through public records shows Morris’s SUV colliding with another car. After the other driver fled the scene, Morris activated his emergency lights.
Subsequent public records requests revealed changes to the drug and alcohol testing policy at the communications district that followed the crash. However, Morris did not confirm whether he was involved in altering the policy, which now mandates testing only in the case of accidents resulting in injuries.
In March, Morris publicly declared his intention to run for mayor of New Orleans, a campaign that has since been disqualified due to the pending criminal charges. He has consistently maintained his innocence regarding all allegations, expressing enthusiasm about the opportunity to present his case in court.
Originally, the trial was scheduled for last month, but it was postponed after the District Attorney’s office sought clarity on the use of Morris’s television interviews conducted after the crash and other related character evidence. Judge Levine permitted certain portions of these reports to be included in the jury’s considerations.
Legal experts note that this case reflects a significant effort by local authorities to address public corruption. “We’ve had a number of high-profile indictments of public officials in federal court over the years but not in state court,” said Dane Ciolino, a law professor at Loyola University. “This illustrates that Jason Williams’ office is committed to tackling public corruption cases at the state level.”
As the trial unfolds, the implications of the proceedings extend beyond Morris, touching upon the accountability of public officials in New Orleans and the perception of government integrity within the community.
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