The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge from a Louisiana man who was convicted in 2016 by a non-unanimous jury verdict for the murder of a New Orleans woman. Matt Doyle has more.
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A state audit shows LSU improperly compensated a faculty member with the School of Veterinary Medicine. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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A state lawmaker who championed having the right to vote restored to felons now wants those same individuals serve jury duty with a bill pre-filed for the upcoming legislative session. About 36,000 former felons were granted the right to vote as of March 1. But Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says these individuals are not allowed to serve on a jury.
James says it’s important to see returning citizens reintegrated on a full scale. He adds jury duty is an obligation, and often, there are not diverse juries.
James says much like voting rights, jury pool eligibility isn’t restored as soon as the cell door opens and someone is released into society.
Cut 5 (10) “…of our society.”
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LSU opens their NCAA Tournament run Thursday against Yale, and the American Gaming Association says 47 million American adults will place a bet on this year’s contest either by filling out a bracket or putting down money on a specific game. CEO Bill Miller says 8.5 billion in bets will be placed by the end of the tournament.
Cut 6 (08) “…championship game.”
The Bayou Bengals are eight-point favorites to beat the Bulldogs.
The vast majority of those participating in NCAA Tourney wagers, about 40 million, will be folks filling out brackets, hoping to predict the outcome of all 63 games, starting with tomorrow’s First Four. Miller says 147 million brackets will be filled out.
Vegas does not expect the Tigers to challenge for an NCAA title, giving them 50-1 odds.
Despite seven new states approving legal sports betting last year, the black market is still projected to be the biggest recipient of funds, as only 4.1 million bettors are expected to place a legal wager. Miller says they hope the 27 states, including Louisiana, that are reportedly considering legalizing sports gaming will join the growing number.
Louisiana’s easterly neighbor, Mississippi has legalized sports betting, something that has Bayou State casinos concerned.
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The US Supreme Court will consider overturning a Louisiana man’s 2016 non-unanimous jury conviction in a murder case. Last year the Bayou State voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring unanimous convictions in all felony cases, but the law is not retroactive. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino.
43-year-old Evangelisto Ramos was convicted of Second Degree Murder on a 10-2 in the death of New Orleans woman, who’s body was found in a garbage can in 2014.
If Ramos’ conviction is overturned, then all current cases being tried, along with those being appealed, would be subject to the new requirement. Ciolino says that impact would be felt immediately in the appeal of one high profile case, the shooting death of former NFL running back Joe McKnight by Ronald Gasser.
Louisiana’s unanimous juries law only applied to crimes committed in 2019 and beyond.
Ciolino says previous federal challenges to non-unanimous convictions were declined, and so if Ramos’ conviction is overturned, Ciolino says the state will face a major unanswered question about cases that go back decades involving those non-unanimous convictions…
The US Supreme Court last ruled on the issue in 1972, where it upheld the legality of state non-unanimous jury laws.
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The state Legislative Auditor’s office releases a report that shows LSU paid a faculty member over 400-thousand dollars in salary and benefits for nearly three years, even though that person admitting to not performing work for the university during that time. State auditor Barrett Hunter says the School of Veterinary Medicine did not take sufficient action to address the employee’s lack of performance…
Cut 12 (10) “…anything like that.”
The audit showed the employee was having performance issues, not showing up for work and management didn’t take appropriate action to handle the issue. Hunter says according to LSU’s audit, even the employee acknowledge he was undeserving of his pay.
Cut 13 (08) “…deserve the pay.”
Hunter says there is a chance that the employee could face legal ramifications for the payment.
Cut 14 (12) “…in recouping it.”
LSU has responded saying the School of Veterinary Medicine has inserted safeguards to ensure nothing like this will occur again.