3rd Circuit Court of Appeal Violated State Law

The American Press reports that State Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle has found that the Third Circuit Court of Appeal in Lake Charles "expended state funds on behalf of an employee to purchase one year of service credit in the Louisiana Employees' Retirement Systems (LASERS)." Such conduct violates Article VII, Section 14, of the Louisiana Constitution, which prohibits the donation of state property without a legal obligation to do so.

Cheif Judge Doucet, Jr. agreed that part of the payment was wrong, but asserts that the remainder was properly paid as interest due on the employee's contributions. The Chief Judge cited a case involving the St. Landry Police Jury and one of its employees for support.

Posted by AJR at December 24, 2002 02:25 PM