Public defender budgets in Louisiana have barely enough money for district offices to function, and they cannot afford any further cuts this year, said the head of the 16th Judicial District Public Defender’s Office. Cecelia “Beanie” Bonin, district defender for Louisiana’s 16th Judicial District, spoke during Tuesday’s Morgan City Council meeting. Bonin asked city officials for their support to request that the state Legislature refrain from cutting public defender budgets any more this year. The 2017 regular session starts April 10. The office represents people who have been charged with a crime, but cannot afford an attorney. The district serves St. Mary,