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Madison Brooks rape suspect's attorney held in contempt for using her name to try to ban pink in courtroom

20 October 2026 at 19:07

The defense attorney who asked a Louisiana judge to ban pink from the courtroom in the Madison Brooks rape case was held in contempt Monday.

Caitlin Fowlkes, who represents 21-year-old Desmond Carter, used Brooks’ full name in a court filing attached to her July motion seeking to ban trial spectators from wearing pink. Under Louisiana law, sex crime victims must be identified only by their initials in court filings, and attorneys are required to redact their full names.

Brooks, a 19-year-old Louisiana State University student at the time, was allegedly gang-raped by a group of men after a night out in 2023, then struck and killed by a car.

MADISON BROOKS’ MOM SLAMS ATTEMPT TO BAN PINK AT TRIAL FOR SLAIN LSU STUDENT: ‘WE WEAR IT TO HONOR HER’

Judge Gail Horne Ray had ruled in August that Brooks' supporters could wear pink in the courtroom, but on Monday she found Fowlkes in contempt for failing to redact Brooks' full name from the filing. Fowlkes received no punishment.

While Brooks' name has received significant public attention and has been discussed by the governor of Louisiana, Ray wrote "the law is clear that an attorney's failure to comply with the provisions of this law 'shall be punishable as contempt of court."

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According to a coroner's report, Brooks had a BAC of .319 at the time of her death and had injuries consistent with rape.

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Carter was 17 years old when he was taken into custody at the time of the incident. Brooks left Reggie's Bar in Tigerland alongside three men — Carter, Casen Carver, Kaivon Washington and Everett Lee, according to officials. Authorities say Carver drove the group to a parking lot where Carter and Washington allegedly raped Brooks.

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The men told police that Brooks asked to be taken home after the incident, providing multiple incorrect addresses before requesting to be let out near a subdivision, where they said she wandered into the street and was struck by a car.

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The driver of the car that hit her remained on the scene and was ultimately cleared of charges.

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"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," Brooks' mother, Ashley Baustert, previously told Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital reached out to Fowlkes for comment.

NFL France preparations continue as Steelers speak with league, Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry heads to Paris

20 October 2026 at 17:26

Supporters of the New Orleans Saints are marching into France, and the wave began early Tuesday when an Air France charter flight carrying Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and others was expected to arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport northeast of Paris.

The Republican governor, wearing a hoodie with the Saints' trademark fleur-de-lis symbol across his chest, left Louis Armstrong Airport on Monday evening. He spoke with reporters before boarding his flight "with a bunch of folks" who would spend the week in France before Sunday's NFL game between the Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers at Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

Landry seemed confident the trip's safety risk was manageable — so much so that the group carried the Saints' Super Bowl XLIV Lombardi Trophy on the trip.

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"Yeah, look, we've been in contact with the State Department and talking to our partners over there," Landry told reporters. "One thing the NFL does very well is work with the FBI, to use Department of Justice, Interpol, they do a great job of securing new stadiums out there.

"And we waited to hear the comment from the NFL. They said it's safe. We're gonna go out there with a bunch of folks from Louisiana and hopefully have a good time."

The NFL on Sunday released a statement that said the game is still on. but nothing in the statement unequivocally said the situation is safe.

"Preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France next Sunday," the NFL statement provided to OutKick and Fox News Digital read.

NFL SAYS FIRST REGULAR-SEASON GAME IN FRANCE REMAINS ON TRACK DESPITE GROWING UNREST IN PARIS

"We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters. We are also providing the two clubs with regular updates. There’s been no disruption or impact at league sites."

The Saints traveled to France after their game on Sunday and some fans are obviously following. The Steelers plan to fly to France on Thursday but on Monday afternoon held a Zoom meeting with the league office about the trip. All the players, coaches and even Steelers owner Art Rooney II were on the call.

"That's part of the normal planning anytime you go abroad," Steelers coach Mike McCarthy said. "The team is excited to go over there but we're in contact with the league...

"We are aware of the situations over there, and have a lot of confidence in our plan."

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New Orleans players, already in France, are off Tuesday and free to roam away from their temporary headquarters near Versailles. Some players planned to attend a Paris Saint-Germain FC soccer match in the evening.

This is against the backdrop of the French government imposing a curfew and many businesses and some famous tourist attractions shutting down amid the wave of violence that engulfed sections of Paris and other cites around the country.

Despite all this, Landry is expecting to conduct some business on behalf of the people of Louisiana while in France.

"Look, we do a lot of work and business in Europe, and so we're very excited," he said. "We got a number of meetings, a meeting with the CEO of Shell, the CEO of BP, and others."

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Another meeting Landry hopes to have is with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who is scheduled to attend the game. Landry hopes to lobby Goodell to hold another Super Bowl in New Orleans.

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