Louisiana Cases August 17, 2020: Wainwright v. Kelly
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Date: Aug. 17, 2020
Case Description
C. Gary Wainwright
v.
Diedre Pierce Kelly and Arthur Morrell, in his Official Capacity as
the Clerk of Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana
No. 2020-C-1004
SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA
August 17, 2020
C. GARY WAINWRIGHT
VS.
DIEDRE PIERCE KELLY AND THE HONORABLE ARTHUR A. MORRELL
C/W
JAMES RYAN NEWHART
VS.
DIEDRE PIERCE KELLY AND ARTHUR MORRELL , IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS CLERK OF COURT IN THE PARISH OF ORLEANS , STATE OF LOUISIANA
IN RE: Charles Gary Wainwright - Applicant Plaintiff; Election, Parish of Orleans Civil, Civil District Court Number(s) 2020-6387 c/w 2020-6401, Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit, Number(s) 20-CA-0374 c/w 20-CA-0375;
Writ application granted. See per curiam.
Hughes, J., would deny.
Johnson, C.J., recused.
Supreme Court of Louisiana
August 17, 2020
/s/
_________
Clerk of Court
For the Court
Page 2
On Supervisory Writ to the Civil District Court, Parish of Orleans
Granted. Louisiana Constitution article V, § 24 states that potential candidates "shall have been admitted to the practice of law in the state" for eight years in order to qualify for a district judicial seat (emphasis added). Ms. Kelly was admitted to the bar on October 20, 2011. She was suspended from the practice of law between April 2, 2015, and November 15, 2016. It follows that the period of her suspension did not accrue towards the required eight years of admission to the practice of law. Thus, the lower courts' rulings are reversed, and Ms. Kelly is disqualified as a candidate for Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge, Section "K."