Gov. Bobby Jindal has gotten involved in the federal court case over who will be the next chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court.
A motion by Jindal's executive counsel says the governor believes it is an issue for the state to decide. He is entering the case to avoid ambiguity over whether that is the state's position.
Meanwhile, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a brief supporting Justice Bernette Johnson.
Louisiana's constitution says the longest-serving justice must become chief justice. When voters elected her in 1994, Johnson, who is black, at first filled an appeal court seat but was assigned to serve on the Supreme Court full-time under terms of a civil rights lawsuit settlement. Some argue that Justice Jeffery Victory, who has served since 1995, has served longest.
