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Felons issue could surface in regular session

by Jeremy Alford, LaPolitics

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With the Louisiana Supreme Court siding with former state legislator Derrick Shepherd and ruling unconstitutional the provision barring convicted felons from running for office for 15 years after their sentences end, the question now becomes what’s next.

According to Secretary of State Tom Schedler, it’s probably a reaction from the Legislature.

“I believe there will be great interest within the Legislature to revisit the issue of convicted felons running for public office,” said Schedler. “The Supreme Court overturned the law on a technicality, not on the substance, so it’s now up to lawmakers to fix the technical issues.”

Shepherd, a former state representative and senator, qualified to run in House District 87 last fall despite a previous conviction for money laundering. He was initially blocked from running before the Supreme Court could hear his case.

Shepherd argued in his lawsuit that the constitutional amendment approved by voters banning convicted felons from running excluded language that had been approved by the Legislature, thus making the law invalid.

Schedler said fixing the law would be more than just a reaction to the recent Supreme Court decision; it would be about doing the right thing.

“In my opinion this is the heart of good government,” he added. “Voters want to be assured that the public officials making their laws are also committed to following the law. It’s common sense legislation and needs to be shored up as soon as possible.”