LAKE CHARLES - The Louisiana Court of Appeal, Third Circuit has granted a motion for an expedited hearing after Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin filed an appeal in the lawsuit over the Lafayette Home Rule Charter that was dismissed earlier this month by a state district judge.
Oral arguments will begin Wednesday morning at 10:00 in Lake Charles.
Ardoin’s appeal follows an appeal filed in May from Lane Roy, the Lafayette attorney representing Keith Kishbaugh who sought to have the revised charter sent back to voters after several precinct maps left some residents unrepresented
After a one-day hearing, 15th Judicial District Judge John Trahan heard witness testimony and attorney arguments and ruled from the bench that the clerical errors made in the precincts can be corrected via City-Parish Council ordinance.
The judge ordered an expedited path for the expected appeals in order to help accommodate them in time for the Aug. 6-8 qualifying period ahead of the Oct. 12 primary and Nov. 16 general elections.
