Patrick Doell

The Project

Patrick’s project will work to establish an eviction help desk in Baton Rouge City Court to provide on-site direct legal services and representation to defend tenants in eviction cases. Patrick will work with the Baton Rouge Mayor-President’s Office and the Clerk of City Court to secure physical space in the city court and to obtain permission from the judges for oral motions and answers to better facilitate same-day representation.

COVID-19 has placed more individuals in danger of evictions than ever before due to loss of income and risks to health. A city court eviction help desk will further the cause of Disaster Resilience as both a reaction to the increase in evictions due to COVID-19 and will act as insulation for individuals against future increases in evictions due to disasters or other causes.

Fellowship Plans

All Patrick wants to do in his legal career is to help people, and public interest work allows him to protect the fundamental rights of those low-income individuals who need aid the most. Housing is among the most basic life needs, and COVID-19 has endangered that need for many. Patrick is thrilled for the opportunity to defend low-income tenants against evictions and ensure that his clients receive every protection available under the law. The Disaster Resilience Fellowship at Equal Justice Works allows him to fulfill his dual passions for justice for the needy and for trial advocacy.