The Louisiana Supreme Court declined Thursday to review the University’s case regarding making its presidental search records public and denied the University’s request for a stay.
The University was found in contempt of court on Aug. 14 by District Judge Janice Clark to pay a $500-a-day fine for every day it failed to turn over the names of finalists for the recently merged System president position. Clark originally ruled the names be released on April 30.
Former Reveille Editor in Chief Andrea Gallo and NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune and The Advocate filed seperate lawsuits for the University to turn over the the presidential search finalists. Gallo lost her case while NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune and The Advocoate won.
The University appealed the ruling in NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune and The Advocate’s case, but Gallo chose not to appeal her case.
University Attorney Jimmy Faircloth said this ruling is in the University’s favor.
“It does not have any reflection on how the court feels on the issue. It is purely a procedural ruling,” Faircloth said.
He said since the Supreme Court will not hear the original appeal, the University still has the right to a suspensive appeal, meaning they do not have to comply with the judgement.
Scott Sternberg, who represented Gallo, said since the stay was denied, the University will have to turn over the records.
Loretta Mince, representing The Advocate and NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune similarly told The Times-Picayune that the University will have to produce the records.
Faircloth said an appeals court has yet to make a decision on whether Clark’s judgement on public records law was right or wrong.
La. Supreme Court will not review LSU’s case
August 29, 2013