State GOP wins federal lawsuit over governing body

The Republican Party of Louisiana can move ahead with its governing body plan and doesn’t need to shrink the size of its central committee, a Baton Rouge-based federal judge ruled late Wednesday. U.S. District Judge James Brady’s decision means the GOP won’t have to follow a state district judge’s ruling that would have cut the membership of the Republican State Central Committee for the 2012-16 term. Brady ordered the secretary of state’s office to follow the Republican Party’s committee plan when the sign-up period for the committee seat elections is held next week, from Dec. 7-9. With the federal judge’s decision, the GOP central committee will stay at 230 seats in the upcoming term, rather than drop to 144 seats. Brady’s decision overturns a ruling by state District Judge Janice Clark, who said the 230-member plan didn’t comply with Louisiana law. The state Republican Party argued Clark’s ruling was unconstitutional, violating the party’s rights to freedom of association, and Brady agreed. Clark had sided with veteran GOP activist John Treen, who said the plan wasn’t properly approved by the central committee as required.