KEISHA HENRY AND CEDRIC BRUMFIELD III v. RICHARD BELL SR AND DARREN LOMBARD IN HIS CAPACITY AS CLERK OF CRIMINAL COURT (2023)

I would affirm the trial court's judgment denying the objection to candidacy and petition to disqualify candidate—Richard Bell, Sr.—for two reasons. First, in election cases, it is well settled that “[a]ny doubt as to the qualifications of a candidate to run for public office should be resolved in favor of permitting the candidate to run for public office.” Nocito v. Bussey, 20-00986, p. 3 (La. 8/15/20), 300 So.3d 862, 863 (internal quotations and citations omitted).

Second, the record is unclear as to what documents presented by Mr. Bell—who appeared pro se—the trial court considered. For this reason, I cannot conclude the trial court was manifestly erroneous.

For these reasons, I respectfully dissent.

LEDET, J., DISSENTS WITH REASONS