November 6, 2009 - Opinions - Louisiana Supreme Court

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November 6, 2009 
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<table cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="90%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td valign="top" width="63%">FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE</td><td valign="top" width="37%"><div align="right">NEWS RELEASE #069</div></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td valign="top">FROM: CLERK OF SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA</td><td valign="top">&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Opinions handed down on the&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>6th day of November, 2009</strong></span>, are as follows:</p><p style="text-align:justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>BY KIMBALL, C.J.:</strong></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="/opinions/2009/09O1617.opn.pdf">2009-O -1617	IN RE: JUDGE JOAN S. BENGE</a></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Retired Judge Lemmie O. Hightower, assigned as Justice ad hoc, sitting for Justice Greg G. Guidry, recused. Judge Benjamin Jones, of the Fourth Judicial District Court, assigned as Justice Pro Tempore, participating in the decision.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Accordingly, it is ordered, adjudged, and decreed that respondent, Judge Joan S. Benge, of the 24th Judicial District Court, be, and is hereby, removed from office; and that her office be, and is hereby declared vacant. Further, respondent is ordered pursuant to La. Sup. Ct. Rule XXIII, &sect;26 to refrain from qualifying as a candidate for judicial office for five years and until certified by this court as eligible to become a candidate for judicial office. Moreover, pursuant to La. Sup. Ct. Rule XXIII, &sect;22 we cast respondent with costs incurred in the investigation and prosecution of this proceeding in the amount of $3,389.50. Finally, we expressly reserve the right of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board to institute lawyer discipline proceedings against Judge Benge.<br />REMOVAL FROM JUDICIAL OFFICE ORDERED; RIGHT TO BRING LAWYER DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS RESERVED.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>BY VICTORY, J.:</strong></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="/opinions/2009/09kk1621.opn.pdf">2009-KK-1621	STATE OF LOUISIANA v. BRUCE WALLACE</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Orleans)</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Judge Benjamin Jones, of the Fourth Judicial District Court, assigned as Justice Pro Tempore, participating in the decision.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">For the reasons stated herein, the judgment of the magistrate court is reversed. The Orleans Parish Criminal District Court is ordered to comply with the mandates of this opinion in ensuring that probable cause determinations required under La. C.Cr.P. art. 230.2 are being held within 48 hours of arrest. In the absence of a bona fide emergency or other extreme circumstances, all persons arrested without a warrant for whom a probable cause determination is not made within 48 hours must be immediately released from custody on their own recognizance.<br />REVERSED.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">WEIMER, J., additionally concurs and assigns reasons.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>BY KNOLL, J.:</strong></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="/opinions/2009/08cc2670.opn.pdf">2008-CC-2670	SUSAN BLACK v. ST. TAMMANY PARISH HOSPITAL, DR. ROBERT CAPITELLI, PATTI ELLISH, JUDY GRACIA, AND BARBARA OAKES</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Washington)</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Judge Benjamin Jones, of the Fourth Judicial District Court, assigned as Justice Pro Tempore, participating in the decision.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the judgment of the court of appeal and reinstate the judgment of the district court, sustaining defendants&rsquo; declinatory exception of improper venue and remanding this matter to the 22nd JDC for the Parish of St. Tammany for further proceedings.<br />REVERSED and REMANDED.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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