December 11, 2019 - Opinions - Louisiana Supreme Court

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December 11, 2019 
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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 #052</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><div class="nrbody"><style>.nrbody h1{ display:block; font-size:1em; font-weight:bold; text-decoration:underline; } .nrbody p { text-align:justify; } </style> <p>The Opinions handed down on the <span style="text-decoration:underline;font-weight:bold;">11th day of December, 2019</span>, are as follows:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-decoration:underline;font-weight:bold;">BY GENOVESE, J.:</p><p><a href="../../opinions/2019/19-0878.CA.OPN.pdf">2019-CA-00878 WEST FELICIANA PARISH GOVERNMENT, PLAQUEMINES PARISH COUNCIL AND ST. JAMES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD VS. STATE OF LOUISIANA, OFFICE OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND LOUISIANA UNIFORM LOCAL SALES TAX BOARD</a> (Parish of East Baton Rouge) <br />After <em>de novo </em>review, we find that the funding mechanism for the Louisiana Uniform Local Sales Tax Board, as set forth in La.R.S. 47:337.102(I), is violative of La.Const. art. VI, &sect; 29.&nbsp; For the reasons stated herein, the judgment of the district court declaring La.R.S. 47:337.102(I) unconstitutional and permanently enjoining the State of Louisiana, Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of Motor Vehicles from withholding locally levied sales and use taxes under the authority of La.R.S. 47:337.102(I) and from disbursing any funds withheld to the Louisiana Uniform Local Sales Tax Board is hereby affirmed.<br />AFFIRMED.</p><p>Chief Judge Susan M. Chehardy of the Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit, heard this case as Justice pro tempore, sitting in the vacant seat for District 1 of the Supreme Court.&nbsp; She is now appearing as an ad hoc for Justice William J. Crain. <br />Retired Judge James Boddie Jr., appointed Justice ad hoc, sitting for Justice Marcus R. Clark.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-decoration:underline;font-weight:bold;">PER CURIAM:</p><p><span style="text-transform:uppercase;"><a href="../../opinions/2019/19-0038.K.OPN.pdf">2019-K-00038 State of Louisiana vs. DAVID BOURG</a></span> (Parish of Allen)<br />As we noted in State v. King, 15-1283 (La. 9/18/17), 232 So.3d 1207, a long line of jurisprudence has emphasized that a grant of new trial pursuant to 851(B)(1) leaves nothing for appellate court review. None of these cases, however, addressed whether the district court applied the correct legal standard in weighing the evidence as a thirteenth juror. While the appellate courts have jurisdiction in a criminal case to review the standard applied for error of law, the court of appeal erred in State v. Bourg, 16-0915 (La. App. 3 Cir. 6/21/17), 223 So.3d 26, in finding the district court applied the wrong standard, and then used its erroneous determination to displace the district court&rsquo;s evaluation of credibility and the weight of the evidence. Accordingly, we grant defendant&rsquo;s application to reverse the court of appeal&rsquo;s affirmance of the conviction, we reinstate the district court&rsquo;s ruling that granted defendant a new trial pursuant to La.C.Cr.P. art. 851(B)(1), and we remand to the district court for further proceedings.<br />REVERSED AND REMANDED.</p><p>Chief Judge Susan M. Chehardy of the Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit, heard this case as Justice pro tempore, sitting in the vacant seat for District 1 of the Supreme Court.&nbsp; She is now appearing as an ad hoc for Justice William J. Crain. <br />Retired Judge James Boddie Jr., appointed Justice ad hoc, sitting for Justice Marcus R. Clark.</p><p>Johnson, C.J., concurs in result.<br />Crichton, J., additionally concurs and assigns reasons.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="text-transform:uppercase;"><a href="../../opinions/2019/19-1061.KA.OPN.pdf">2019-KA-01061 State of Louisiana vs. hunter fussell</a></span> (Parish of St. Tammany)<br />We find defendant here failed to carry that burden of showing that Children&rsquo;s Code art. 305(A) is unconstitutional. Accordingly, we vacate the district court&rsquo;s ruling, which declared Article 305(A) unconstitutional and quashed defendant&rsquo;s transfer to the district court, and we remand to the district court for further proceedings consistent with the views expressed here.<br />VACATED AND REMANDED.</p><p>Chief Judge Susan M. Chehardy of the Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit, heard this case as Justice pro tempore, sitting in the vacant seat for District 1 of the Supreme Court.&nbsp; She is now appearing as an ad hoc for Justice William J. Crain. <br />Retired Judge James Boddie Jr., appointed Justice ad hoc, sitting for Justice Marcus R. Clark.</p><p>Johnson, C.J., dissents and assigns reasons.<br />Hughes, J., dissents for the reasons assigned by Johnson, C.J.<br />Chehardy, J., dissents for the reasons assigned by Johnson, C.J. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="text-transform:uppercase;"><a href="../../opinions/2019/19-1128.B.OPN.pdf">2019-B-01128 in re: laura j. johnson</a></span><br />Upon review of the findings and recommendations of the hearing committee and disciplinary board, and considering the record, the brief filed by the ODC, and oral argument, it is ordered that Laura J. Johnson, Louisiana Bar Roll number 7312, be and she hereby is disbarred, retroactive to November 12, 2015, the date of her interim suspension.&nbsp; Her name shall be stricken from the roll of attorneys, and her license to practice law in the State of Louisiana shall be revoked.&nbsp; All costs and expenses in the matter are assessed against respondent in accordance with Supreme Court Rule XIX, &sect; 10.1, with legal interest to commence thirty days from the date of finality of this court&rsquo;s judgment until paid.<br />DISBARMENT IMPOSED.</p><p>Chief Judge Susan M. Chehardy of the Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit, heard this case as Justice pro tempore, sitting in the vacant seat for District 1 of the Supreme Court.&nbsp; She is now appearing as an ad hoc for Justice William J. Crain. <br />Retired Judge James Boddie Jr., appointed Justice ad hoc, sitting for Justice Marcus R. Clark.<br />&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p></div>
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