Judge Timothy Kelley of the 19th Judicial District Court has thrown out the lawsuit filed against Gov. Bobby Jindal and the Louisiana Board of Regents that challenged the Board’s composition, according to the Associated Press.
The suit, filed on Feb. 14 on behalf of seven Southern University students by former Congressman Cleo Fields, said the Board’s composition was unconstitutional as it had no racial minority members.
It argued all racial minorities were replaced in December when Jindal announced his new appointments, resulting in an all-white Board.
Kelley denied the injunction Feb. 24 at the initial hearing. Following the verdict, Fields and the students announced they would file an appeal.
A minority member, Albert Sam II, was added to the Board on March 9 following the resignation of long-time Board member Roland Toups on March 7.
Kelley ruled Tuesday the governor’s appointments to the Board are legal, even if they were “politically ill-advised and damaging.”
A resolution to “make mandatory the provision for diversity in board appointments” will be presented and voted upon during the regular legislative session.
 
 
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