Louisiana

″It took a tremendous amount of courage for her to stand up, especially given that the defendant is a statewide elected official,” Craft said in an email. “Although he has claimed he had a ‘consensual’ relationship with Ms. Ross, not only does she vehemently deny that claim, but many of the written communications he sent her verify she repeatedly rebuffed his advances and told him ‘no.’” … [Read more...] about Louisiana Secretary Of State Resigns After Staffer Accuses Him Of Sexual Harassment

"I'm not trying to scare people by design," said Gov. John Bel Edwards. "The cuts are so catastrophic we shouldn't even contemplate them as we sit here. The legislature has failed to act in a fiscal session last year and a special session this year." … [Read more...] about Almost 37,000 elderly people could face eviction in Louisiana due to budget shortfall

The Louisiana Senate’s move comes amid a broader push in several other states to challenge felon disenfranchisement laws, which critics say are racially discriminatory and an ugly remnant of the Civil War era when some states wanted to keep African-Americans from the ballot box. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) recently announced he would restore voting rights for people on parole. In Florida, the state with the largest disenfranchised population, activists hope to pass a ballot measure in November that would automatically restore voting rights to people once they complete probation or parole. … [Read more...] about Louisiana Lawmakers Approve Restoring Voting Rights To People On Probation And Parole

"It is painfully clear that anti-abortion state legislators will stop at nothing to push their radical agenda, despite growing evidence that these laws harm women," said Michelle Erenberg, director of the advocacy group Lift Louisiana. She made those comments in a news release announcing a public education campaign about the state's abortion restrictions. … [Read more...] about Ban on Abortions After 15 Weeks Signed into Law in Louisiana, but There’s One Hurdle Left

The resolution was moved in the House by Judy Perry Martinez of Louisiana, who is also the association’s president-elect nominee. She noted that Louisiana adopted its nonunanimous jury policy with its 1898 constitution, which was expressly designed to “establish the supremacy of the white race.” Today, she said, one study showed that African-American defendants were 30 percent more likely to have been convicted by a nonunanimous jury. Louisiana is considering a constitutional amendment to require unanimous juries, she said, but the state’s attorney general, Jeff Landry, has publicly opposed it, saying the current situation is quicker and easier. … [Read more...] about Louisiana, Oregon should require unanimous juries for felony convictions, ABA House urges