District Judge Janice Clark said today she will instruct the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff to enforce her order to retrieve records in the lawsuit against the University Board of Supervisors.
“This court will issue any needful acts, writs or warrants for any persons participatory in the housing or detention of these documents, whether it is in or out of state,” Clark told the court.
Loretta Mince, attorney for The Advocate and NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, said Clark’s order today would allow the sheriff to use whatever procedures are available in order to obtain the documents.
The Board of Supervisors is currently in contempt of court for failure to turn over the names and résumés of the applicants for its search to fill the position of University president. Clark ordered the board to give up the documents in April.
The court will resume session once the sheriff serves the orders and the documents are obtained, Clark said.
Mince said it’s not clear how long it will take for the sheriff’s office to get the documents, but the order will likely have to be cleared through the court clerk’s office before being enforced.