Groups called Civil District Judge Ethel Julian's ruling on Friday a victory for transparency and the justice system.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A judge says New Orleans must release the locations of its 400 clearly marked and brightly lit crime cameras.

The ACLU of Louisiana and Southern Poverty Law Center went to court in February, after the city turned down a public defender's public records request for a map of all publicly visible real-time surveillance cameras.

In a joint statement Monday, the groups called Civil District Judge Ethel Julian's ruling on Friday a victory for transparency and the justice system, and confirmation that public records are public.

Public defender Laura Bixby asked for the map last year. She said it would help with her clients' defense because the cameras' video could include exonerating evidence.