A Louisiana judge held defense attorney Caitlin Fowlkes in contempt of court Monday after she used the full name of Madison Brooks, the Louisiana State University student allegedly gang-raped in 2023, in a court filing rather than referring to her only by initials as state law requires.
Fowlkes represents Desmond Carter, 21, one of the men accused in the case. She had attached Brooks’ full name to a July motion asking the court to bar trial spectators from wearing pink in the courtroom. Under Louisiana law, victims of sex crimes must be identified only by their initials in court filings, and attorneys are required to redact full names from such documents.
Judge Gail Horne Ray had already ruled in August that Brooks’ supporters could wear pink to the courtroom. On Monday, she found Fowlkes in contempt specifically for failing to redact Brooks’ name, though Fowlkes received no punishment.
Ray noted in her ruling that Brooks’ name has drawn significant public attention, including comment from Louisiana’s governor, but wrote that “the law is clear that an attorney’s failure to comply with the provisions of this law ‘shall be punishable as contempt of court.'”
Background of the Case
Brooks, 19 at the time, was an LSU student who was allegedly raped by a group of men after a night out in 2023 before she was struck and killed by a car. A coroner’s report found her blood alcohol content was .319 at the time of her death and documented injuries consistent with rape.
Carter was 17 years old when he was taken into custody in connection with the incident. According to officials, Brooks left Reggie’s Bar in Tigerland with three men — Carter, Casen Carver, Kaivon Washington and Everett Lee. Authorities say Carver drove the group to a parking lot, where Carter and Washington allegedly raped Brooks.
The men told police that Brooks later asked to be taken home, giving multiple incorrect addresses before asking to be let out near a subdivision. They said she then wandered into the street and was struck by a car. The driver remained at the scene and was ultimately cleared of charges.
Brooks’ mother, Ashley Baustert, has previously spoken publicly about her daughter.
“Maddie felt safe that night, she thought these were her friends and I think a lot of selfish choices were made that night, and ultimately it led in a horrific ending,” Baustert said.
Fox News Digital reported it had reached out to Fowlkes for comment.
