Louisiana Supreme Court

Louisiana abortion providers file appeal, hope to block ban

By SARA CLINEAugust 4, 2022 GMT

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Abortion-rights advocates hope Louisiana’s near-total ban of the procedure will soon be blocked again, after plaintiffs in an ongoing legal challenge filed an appeal with the state Supreme Court Thursday.

Louisiana Supreme Court’s chief justice reelected

July 23, 2022 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court has won re-election to another 10-year term.

Chief Justice John Weimer was automatically reelected when nobody signed up to challenge him by Friday's qualifying deadline for the Nov.

Louisiana high court leaves abortion bans on hold

By JANET McCONNAUGHEYJuly 7, 2022 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Louisiana Supreme Court rejected the state attorney general’s request to allow immediate enforcement of state laws against most abortions in a 4-to-2 ruling late Wednesday.

Ex-deputy can’t take back guilty plea in husband’s death

May 17, 2022 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Louisiana Supreme Court has rejected a former sheriff’s deputy’s claim that she should be able to take back her guilty plea in her husband’s death because she made the plea rather than face a jury process that was later found unconstitutional.

Louisiana justices toss COVID-related charges against pastor

By JANET McCONNAUGHEYMay 13, 2022 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Louisiana Supreme Court threw out charges Friday against a pastor who flouted restrictions on gatherings early in the coronavirus pandemic, ruling 5-2 that the governor's executive orders violated freedom of religion.

Lawyer: Let legislature decide if suicide cancels conviction

April 18, 2022 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The Louisiana Supreme Court is preparing to hear arguments about a little-known rule that canceled the conviction of a white man who killed himself shortly after the start of his life sentence for killing a Black man.

Jack Watson, 93, Supreme Court justice from 1979-1996

February 17, 2022 GMT

LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — Jack Crozier Watson, who was a Louisiana Supreme Court justice from 1979 through 1996, has died at the age of 93.

“He was a good friend and I respected him greatly. His opinions were always well written,” said Charles Riddle III, district attorney for Avoyelles Parish, part of the Supreme Court district that Watson served.

Louisiana high court to decide if suicide erases conviction

February 8, 2022 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The Louisiana Supreme Court said Tuesday that it will decide whether a white man’s conviction for killing a Black man should be thrown out because he killed himself in prison while appealing the verdict.

Louisiana attorney disbarred for multiple alleged violations

January 21, 2022 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Louisiana Supreme Court has disbarred a Lafayette attorney accused of failing to properly handle a client’s case, then lying to investigators about it.

Brad Thomas Andrus was formally disbarred, ordered to pay investigation costs and must participate in a program to make his former client whole, the court said in a ruling released Wednesday.

Louisiana Supreme Court extends courthouse closure

January 12, 2022 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — With the number of COVID-19 cases rising daily in Louisiana, the state Supreme Court building will remain off limits to the public, the court said Wednesday in a news release.

A December closure order was to expire this month, but the court now says the courthouse will remain closed until further notice because of the increase in cases driven by the omicron variant.

Louisiana Supreme Court upholds employer vaccine mandate

By JANET McCONNAUGHEYJanuary 7, 2022 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Louisiana Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the state’s largest healthcare system.

Louisiana judge resigns after outcry over racist language

December 31, 2021 GMT

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — A Louisiana judge who repeatedly used a racial slur in a video recorded at her home and posted to social media resigned in a letter her attorney sent to the Louisiana Supreme Court on Friday.

Louisiana Supreme Court OKs St. Tammany casino referendum

November 30, 2021 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled that a referendum on a proposed casino can be put to a vote in St. Tammany Parish as planned, overturning an appeals court ruling that could have jeopardized the election.

Analysis: Lawmakers might redraw Louisiana Supreme Court map

By MELINDA DESLATTEOctober 31, 2021 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana lawmakers are trying to wade into a political thicket they haven't braved in nearly 25 years: the redrawing of maps setting the state's Supreme Court districts.

Ochsner Health disappointed by COVID-19 vaccine ruling

October 30, 2021 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana’s largest health system expressed disappointment with an appellate court's order blocking its decision to fire or discipline north Louisiana employees who refuse its mandate to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Officer’s suit in protest injury goes to Louisiana court

By KEVIN McGILLOctober 20, 2021 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana's Supreme Court is now faced with the question of whether a police officer — seriously injured by an unknown assailant in a 2016 demonstration against police brutality — has grounds to pursue a lawsuit against the high-profile protest organizer under state law.

Ida-delayed Supreme Court arguments set for next week

October 12, 2021 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana Supreme Court arguments that were postponed last month due to Hurricane Ida have been set for next week.

The court issued a statement Tuesday saying oral arguments will be held Monday through Wednesday.

Louisiana Supreme Court expansion proposal fails in House

June 9, 2021 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana won't be expanding the state Supreme Court, after House lawmakers Wednesday blocked debate on the proposal a day before the legislative session must end.

The bill, co-sponsored by Republican Sen.

Louisiana Supreme Court to get its first female clerk

May 29, 2021 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — For the first time in 208 years, a woman will take over as clerk of court at the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Veronica Odinet Koclanes will replace John Olivier when he retires at the end of the year.

Effort to add seats to Louisiana Supreme Court nears passage

By MELINDA DESLATTEMay 24, 2021 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Two new seats would be added to the Louisiana Supreme Court, under a measuring nearing final legislative passage Monday that is expected to create at least one new majority-minority district on the high court and require a redrawing of districts for the first time in decades.