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re: AG threatens 8 New Orleans leaders with removal from office in court clerk battle

Posted on 5/14/26 at 1:15 pm to
Posted by 4cubbies
Member since Sep 2008
61462 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 1:15 pm to
Correct. It looks like we all agree that she was not elected to the office she currently holds.
This post was edited on 5/14/26 at 1:16 pm
Posted by 4cubbies
Member since Sep 2008
61462 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 1:19 pm to
quote:

There is no new office.


Ok. No new office was created. The legislature just changed the name and responsibilities of the office.

Posted by Red Stick Rambler
https://i.imgur.com/2j5cbGm.jpg
Member since Jun 2011
2656 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 1:32 pm to
quote:

Correct. It looks like we all agree that she was not elected to the office she currently holds.


Jesus Christ, you're like a stuck record!

One more time, you seem to acknowledge - begrudgingly - that the state legislature has the authority to expand, restrict or change the duties and functions of an office or position that is created by state law. And I assume that you don't dispute that the state legislature also has the authority to change to title of an office that it created.

So is what you're arguing is that every time the state legislature expands, restricts or changes the duties or functions of an office they have created a "new office" that requires a new election?

quote:

Ok. No new office was created. The legislature just changed the name and responsibilities of the office.


Yes, that's all this is.
This post was edited on 5/14/26 at 1:33 pm
Posted by JimEverett
Member since May 2020
2420 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 1:36 pm to
quote:

I’ve already acknowledged the legislature likely possessed the constitutional authority to abolish the office.

My argument is narrower than the one you keep attributing to me.

I’m questioning the democratic legitimacy of abolishing an elected office after voters had already selected someone for it but before he could assume office, thereby rendering that election outcome politically meaningless.

You appear to believe that if the legislature possesses the technical authority to do that, then no legitimate democratic concern exists.


I think your argument has merit.

Presumably the election in Orleans Parish was authorized by the State. It was not some rogue local election, the authority to hold the election came from the State, in fact - I imagine the State required it. But I could be wrong on that, and it would change how I am thinking.

Such an election is held to choose someone who will do certain duties entrusted to the office ultimately by the State.
Election is held and a winner is determined. But the State then says we are taking those duties away from the person elected and giving them to another person not elected to perform those duties via abolishing the position itself.
There is something wrong with that. I would argue that the due process rights of the voters and the candidate elected were violated. I understand that the State has the power to abolish the office. But you cannot hold an election under your power and then when the results come in essentially ignore the election.
Posted by soonerinlOUisiana
South of I-10
Member since Aug 2012
2072 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 1:55 pm to
quote:

We elected Civil Clerk of Court and a Criminal Clerk of Court. You know this. You are aware that BR eliminated the Criminal Clerk position after the election and appointed the Civil Clerk to assume the duties of both offices (which are both still operating in separate locations with separate staffs).


You need to familiarize yourself with the concept of “plenary power”, and similarly, “the power to grant and give includes the power to deny and take away”. Do they not teach about that at GED school?
Posted by JimEverett
Member since May 2020
2420 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:08 pm to
plenary power is still subject to constitutional limits.

Legislatures have plenary power to determine how presidential electors are chosen. But if a legislature chooses an election to determine how electors are chosen there are constitutional protections that have to be followed.

If the legislature doesn't like the result of the vote, plenary power doesn't give the legislature the ability to change their method AFTER the voters have voted.
Posted by TD422
Destrehan, LA
Member since Jun 2019
905 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:15 pm to
Are you claiming there's no "Clerk of Court" in Orleans Parish?

Is this what you're hanging your argument on? The semantics of Civil - Criminal - Clerk of Court?
Posted by SlowFlowPro
With populists, expect populism
Member since Jan 2004
477247 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:17 pm to
quote:

It looks like we all agree that she was not elected to the office she currently holds.


It's the same office.
Posted by 4cubbies
Member since Sep 2008
61462 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:18 pm to
quote:

So is what you're arguing is that every time the state legislature expands, restricts or changes the duties or functions of an office they have created a "new office" that requires a new election?


No, not every change. But sufficiently substantial changes that fundamentally alter the office’s structure, jurisdiction, or democratic function can raise legitimacy concerns… even if the legislature possesses the authority to codify those changes.
Posted by 4cubbies
Member since Sep 2008
61462 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:19 pm to
quote:

It's the same office.


Same office, different name and different duties.
Posted by TD422
Destrehan, LA
Member since Jun 2019
905 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:19 pm to
quote:

If the legislature doesn't like the result of the vote, plenary power doesn't give the legislature the ability to change their method AFTER the voters have voted.


Jim, is this an opinion, or can you cite the appropriate law that says this?
Because as you've stated it, an election invalidates the state's power to modify how it operates. That seems to me to be a little far fetched.

"Sorry, State Legislature, you can't change X now, we've already held an election."
Posted by 4cubbies
Member since Sep 2008
61462 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:20 pm to
quote:

Are you claiming there's no "Clerk of Court" in Orleans Parish?

I’m claiming voters did not elect an Orleans Parish CoC. We elected a Criminal Clerk and a Civil Clerk.
Posted by 4cubbies
Member since Sep 2008
61462 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:25 pm to
quote:

I’m questioning the democratic legitimacy of abolishing an elected office after voters had already selected someone for it but before he could assume office, thereby rendering that election outcome politically meaningless.


This is my assumption, as well.

quote:

Such an election is held to choose someone who will do certain duties entrusted to the office ultimately by the State.

Election is held and a winner is determined. But the State then says we are taking those duties away from the person elected and giving them to another person not elected to perform those duties via abolishing the position itself.
There is something wrong with that. I would argue that the due process rights of the voters and the candidate elected were violated. I understand that the State has the power to abolish the office. But you cannot hold an election under your power and then when the results come in essentially ignore the election.


I could hug you right now.
Posted by JimEverett
Member since May 2020
2420 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:26 pm to
No - I am not going to cite any law or brief the issue.

It appears to me to be plain though that there are serious issues with the idea that a State can allow, under its authority, an election to a position and then after the election is over essentially abolish the results.

Regardless, the optics are horrible - it looks like banana-republic level shite you see in Africa and Central America.
Posted by TD422
Destrehan, LA
Member since Jun 2019
905 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:27 pm to
Again, semantics.

Explain then what a CIVIL CoC does that a CRIMINAL CoC does not, or vice versa, while executing the performance of their duties. They're the same job, no?
Posted by VOR
New Orleans
Member since Apr 2009
68835 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:29 pm to
The State exceeded its constitutional authority in the first place. I'm pretty sure the AG knows that's the case.
Posted by TD422
Destrehan, LA
Member since Jun 2019
905 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:32 pm to
quote:

No - I am not going to cite any law or brief the issue


Sorry that you feel that way. Unfortunately, it undermines your position as emotional rather than based in merit. You do you, I guess.

quote:

Regardless, the optics are horrible - it looks like banana-republic level shite you see in Africa and Central America


Are you new to New Orleans politics, Bud? If you think the consolidation of two offices is bad, have I got some headlines out of NOLA that'll make you choke on your Chai tea!
Posted by JimEverett
Member since May 2020
2420 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:37 pm to
quote:

Sorry that you feel that way. Unfortunately, it undermines your position as emotional rather than based in merit. You do you, I guess.


It undermines my position that I am not going to do legal work for free on a message board? That is odd.

What about the example of the legislature exercising its power over how electors for President are chosen. You don't think there are serious issues with a scenario where State X holds an election for those electors, but then changes its position AFTER the election an says they will use a different way to appoint?
Technically the State in such a situation has the power, but such action seems to be more than a little problematic if you are a voter and/or a candidate.
Posted by TD422
Destrehan, LA
Member since Jun 2019
905 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:43 pm to
quote:

It undermines my position that I am not going to do legal work for free on a message board? That is odd.


Holy crap, you're one of those.

You come onto a message board, and refuse to have a conversation. You're BRILLIANT. Just brilliant.

I really tried to honestly debate this with you, and you pull THAT beauty.
Posted by TD422
Destrehan, LA
Member since Jun 2019
905 posts
Posted on 5/14/26 at 2:47 pm to
quote:

The State exceeded its constitutional authority in the first place. I'm pretty sure the AG knows that's the case.


Make your case, Counselor. I've seen references to the State having the authority, nothing to the contrary.

I'm open to discussion, change my mind.

ETA: Would this entire issue go away if the State saw fit to assign Calvin Duncan as a co-Clerk for the next four years? I have no idea how that would work, but the physical consolidation of the offices has already saved the state / parish money. Would that make this entire shite show go away?
This post was edited on 5/14/26 at 2:51 pm
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