Several members of a recently formed committee to vet parish attorney candidates voiced concern at the group’s first meeting Monday that current qualifications for the position don’t require enough experience, but deferred taking action to raise them.
Motions to raise qualifications were postponed because almost half the committee members were absent from the meeting, the committee’s first since its formation in November. The deferrals added to a growing list of delays to fill a position that has been vacant since former parish attorney Mary Roper was dismissed in early September.
Also Monday, the committee deferred on electing a chairman, advertising the parish attorney position and setting the next meeting date. The committee did not agree on a date for its second meeting, but discussed Jan. 22, Feb. 2, Feb. 9 and Feb. 16 as possible dates.
According to the Plan of Government, the parish attorney must have practiced municipal law for a minimum of five years, while additional statutes demand a year of experience managing professional subordinates. Metro Councilman and committee member Trae Welsh, who has a law practice in Zachary, said five years of experience isn’t enough to build the knowledge base required of a parish attorney.
“I’ve never been a part of one of the larger firms, but I imagine the managing partners at some of the firms—I don’t think anyone would be considered after five years of practice. I don’t think anyone would say you’re ready to lead and your decisions are final,” Welch said.
Welch suggested increasing the requirement to eight years. The committee took up a motion to increase it to six years, but it failed. Other members of the committee suggested adding a requirement that candidates must have supervised other attorneys.
In addition to Welch, the committee includes Metro Council members Chauna Banks-Daniel, Ryan Heck and C. Denise Marcelle. It also includes attorney Dennis Blunt, who represents the Baton Rouge Bar Association; Kimberly Robinson, representing the LSU Law School; and Southern University Law Center Chancellor Freddie Pitcher.
Heck, Pitcher and Marcelle all failed to give notice they would not be attending the meeting. Without them, the four members who did attend said they felt the agenda items hadn’t been vetted thoroughly enough to set in stone without the others present.
“There are people on this committee that I’d really like to hear from today,” Welch said, noting Pitcher’s absence. “He brings a lot, to my decisions anyway, he brings a lot of wind.”
The Metro Council first considered creating the committee in September, but deferred the issue at several council meetings before finally approving it in late November.
Lea Anne Batson is serving as interim parish attorney while the search for the next parish attorney continues. —Kelly Connelly
