La. High Court Rules Johnson Will Be Chief Justice
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The LouisianaSupreme Court has ruled that Bernette Johnson will be the court's next chief justice, resolving a legal dispute that wound up in federal court.
The court's ruling Tuesday says Johnson's years of appointed and elected service on the court give her the seniority that entitles her to succeed Chief Justice Catherine "Kitty" Kimball early next year.
Justice Jeffrey Victory had argued he had more seniority than Johnson and deserved the position.
Johnson filed a federal lawsuit to block her colleagues from deciding the matter. U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan ruled in her favor last month.
Johnson will be the court's first black chief justice.
More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL
![Status Conference Set For La. Justice’s Suit](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2012/07/Judges-Gavel-3-Flickr-User-KeithBurtis-300x225.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Earthquake Centered Near New York City Rattles Northeast](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2018/07/E4J7DD.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![School Shooting Rocks Perry, Iowa Community on First Day Back from Holiday Break](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2022/03/attachment-Do-Not-Cross-Police-Tape-Photo-courtesy-of-David-Von-Diemar-jM6Y2nhsAtk-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana Republicans Are in Court to Fight Efforts to Establish New Black Congressional District](http://townsquare.media/site/180/files/2022/04/attachment-gettyimages-1219410516.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Hunter Biden Pleads Not Guilty to Three Federal Gun Charges Filed After His Plea Deal Collapse](http://townsquare.media/site/180/files/2021/04/GettyImages-Hunter-Biden.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Gaetz Says He Will Seek to Oust McCarthy as Speaker This Week, McCarthy Says ‘Bring It On’](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2023/10/attachment-Getty-Images-Matt-Gaetz.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California dies at age 90](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2023/09/attachment-Dianne-Feinstein-Getty.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![New York Judge Rules Donald Trump Defrauded Banks, Insurers While Building Real Estate Empire](http://townsquare.media/site/34/files/2022/03/attachment-GettyImages-1330466317.jpg?w=980&q=75)