The Advocate is reporting that state District Judge Janice Clark warned the university's board of supervisors Monday that it faces possible imprisonment if it does not immediately comply with her 4-month-old order to release the records of its secret presidential search. Referring to the judge as "adamant," the Advocate reports Monday afternoon that 19th Judicial District Judge Janice Clark sternly warned the LSU Board of Supervisors that it faces possible imprisonment, in addition to the $500 per day fine, if it does not immediately comply with her more than 4-month-old order to make public the records of its secret presidential search.
Clark ordered the board's attorney, Jimmy Faircloth, and lawyers for The Advocate and The Times-Picayune newspapers back to her courtroom Tuesday morning so she can determine whether the board has complied with her order. The paper reported:
The Advocate sued after the university board refused to release the records, and The Times-Picayune joined the case a week later.
Faircloth argued during a hearing Monday that the board intends to appeal the judge's April 30 order and should not have to comply with it until higher courts have spoken.
"It certainly is high time for compliance," Clark stated. "I want the production (of the records). They (the newspapers) are entitled to it."
Read the full story here.
The T-P reports that Clark also told the board failure to turn over the documents could result in consequences that include stopping all further court proceedings and possible suspension of the board members.
Clark noted that "the court is very loathe to take these measures," The T-P reports. Read that story here.