Armentor v. Aumiller

Supreme Court of Louisiana September 27, 1996

Armentor v. Aumiller, 680 So. 2d 1164 (La. 1996)

1996 WL 557779

Johnson, Lemmon, Reasons

Opinion of the Court

In re Aumiller, Courtney Rae; — Defendants); applying for supervisory and/or remedial writs; Parish of Calcasieu, 14th Judicial District Court, Div. “C” No. 93-1416; to the Court of Appeal, Third Circuit, No. CW96-1027.

Denied. Moot.

LEMMON, J., dissents and assigns reasons. JOHNSON, J., not on panel.

Dissenting Opinion

LEMMON, Justice,

dissenting.

I would remand the case to the trial court with instructions for a randomly selected judge to conduct a hearing to inquire into the circumstances under which the litigant hired the trial judge’s election opponent as new counsel after the litigant received an unfavorable judgment.1 Depending on the facts de*1165veloped at the evidentiary hearing, it might be more appropriate for this court to vacate the order allowing the attorney to enter as counsel of record.

. It appears that the litigant in this case, after receiving an unfavorable judgment from the trial judge, hired the judge’s opponent in the then upcoming election as new counsel while an ap*1165plication for rehearing was pending. Since the new lawyer immediately filed a motion to recuse the judge, it appears that the litigant's reason for hiring the judge’s opponent was for the sole purpose of getting rid of the judge who had rendered the unfavorable judgment.

Reference

Full Case Name: Chris John ARMENTOR v. Courtney Rae AUMILLER
Status: Published