Louisiana Chief Justice Declines To Discuss Successor

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Catherine "Kitty" Kimball says the state's code of judicial conduct prohibits her from meeting with a group of community leaders to discuss their concerns about the court's impending debate over naming Kimball's successor.

Several supporters of Justice Bernette Johnson, who sued last week to block her colleagues from debating and voting on whether she is entitled to become the next chief justice, had asked to meet this week with Kimball.

In a letter dated Monday, Kimball thanked Johnson's supporters for their letter outlining their concerns but said she must refrain from making any public comments about pending litigation.

Johnson and Justice Jeffrey Victory both stake claims to being the court's longest-serving justice and believe they should succeed Kimball, who retires next year.