ANDREW BRADLEY TOWBIN v. JOHN FULLER AND DARREN LOMBARD IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS CLERK OF COURT FOR CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF ORLEANS (2026)

Reversed and rendered. See order and per curiam.

PDG

JDH

JBM

Supreme Court of Louisiana March 11, 2026

SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA

No. 2026-C-00296

ANDREW BRADLEY TOWBIN

VS.

JOHN T. FULLER AND DARREN P. LOMBARD IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS CLERK OF COURT FOR CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF ORLEANS

PER CURIAM *

“There is nothing more fundamental to our society than the ability of our electorate to choose its leaders.” Becker v. Dean, 03-2493, p. 6 (La. 9/18/03), 854 So.2d 864, 869. It is therefore appropriate to exercise our constitutional grant of general supervisory authority in recognizing the res nova issue presented. See La. Const. art. V, § 5(A); Mellor v. Parish of Jefferson, 22-1713, p. 3 (La. 9/1/23), 370 So.3d 388, 390 (internal citations omitted); see also La. C.C.P. art. 2164. Finding La. R.S. 18:463(A)(2)(a)(iv) and 18:492(A)(7) ambiguous as applied to the unique facts and circumstances of this matter; and mindful of the well-established principle that the interests of the state and its citizens are best served when elections laws are interpreted to give the electorate the widest possible choice of candidates such that any doubt concerning the qualifications of a candidate should be resolved in favor of allowing the candidate to run for public office; we reverse the rulings of the lower courts, overrule the objection to candidacy, and order that John T. Fuller shall remain on the ballot for the May 16, 2026, election for the office of Judge for Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, Section J. See Becker, 03-2493, p. 7, 854 So.2d at 869; Landiak v. Richmond, 05-0758, pp. 6-7 (La. 3/24/05), 899 So.2d 535, 541.

REVERSED AND RENDERED

FOOTNOTES

FOOTNOTE.   Judge Allison H. Penzato of the Court of Appeal, First Circuit, appointed as Justice pro tempore, sitting for the vacancy in the First District.

Weimer, C.J., concurs and assigns reasons. Griffin, J., additionally concurs and assigns reasons. Guidry, J., dissents. Cole, J., concurs and assigns reasons. Penzato, J., dissents and assigns reasons.