Louisiana

Louisiana Man Awarded $205,000 After Unconstitutional Arrest for Zombie Joke about COVID-19 on Facebook

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FOREST HILL, Louisiana – A recent federal jury decision has awarded Waylon Bailey $205,000 in compensatory and punitive damages after his unconstitutional arrest for a satirical Facebook post about COVID-19. The arrest occurred in March 2020 when a SWAT-style raid took place at Bailey’s home, triggered by his zombie-themed joke. The arrest prompted Bailey to file a lawsuit against the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and Detective Randell Iles, which culminated in the recent jury verdict in his favor. Bailey expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the jury recognized his Facebook post as satire … Read more

Louisiana Faces New Lawsuit Over Alleged Racial Gerrymandering in Congressional Redistricting

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BATON ROUGE, La. – In response to civil rights activists and a federal judge’s order, state lawmakers successfully redrew Louisiana’s congressional map to include a second black-majority district. The aim was to more accurately represent the state’s black population. However, a new lawsuit has now emerged, challenging the legitimacy of the redistricting process. The plaintiffs claim that lawmakers deliberately manipulated the boundaries to consolidate African American voters into two districts, thereby compromising their voting strength. According to those suing Secretary of State Nancy Landry, this action constitutes racial gerrymandering and a violation of the U.S. … Read more

Louisiana Shrimp Association Files Lawsuit to Challenge Gulf Coast Shrimping Regulations

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Mobile, Alabama – A lawsuit filed by the Louisiana Shrimp Association on Wednesday may have wide-ranging implications for shrimping practices along the Gulf Coast. The suit targets the National Marine Fisheries Service of the Biden Administration over a new rule that requires skimmer trawl vessels to use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in inshore waters. James Baehr, Chief Litigator for the Pelican Institute, explains that the current rule only applies to shrimp boats that are 40 feet or longer, but the Louisiana Shrimp Association is concerned that smaller boats may also be required to use TEDs … Read more

Controversial Louisiana Law Mandating “In God We Trust” Display in Schools Raises First Amendment Concerns

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Louisiana, USA – Louisiana recently passed a law mandating that every public school classroom display the phrase “In God We Trust.” The bill’s author argues that this requirement is in line with a longstanding tradition of showcasing the national motto. However, legal scholars believe that this law may violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from endorsing or promoting religion. This raises concerns about the potential religious coercion of students in public schools. The Louisiana law specifies that the motto must be displayed on a poster or framed document that … Read more