Debate heads to appeals court

Third Circuit to hear arguments in domiciliary residence case

The Third Circuit Court of Appeal will pick up the debate next week of a DeRidder city councilman declared ineligible for his seat.

The court will hear oral arguments at 11 a.m. Oct. 31 as to whether city councilman at-large Michael D. Harris is eligible for his elected seat based upon his domiciliary residence.

On Oct. 15, retired Natchitoches Parish Judge Eric Harrington ruled that Harris did not have a domiciliary residence within city limits as is required by the DeRidder City Charter, and declared his seat vacant.

During the trial Oct. 8, Harris testified to having dual residency and said he lives in two homes; one located on Lake Court Drive, inside city limits, and another on Harmony Trail, which is outside of limits.

Evidence presented during the trial reflected that Harris spent more time at his residence outside of city limits and that both the water and electricity had been turned off for extended periods of time at the Lake Court address.

In his brief filed on Wednesday, Harris’ attorney Michael McHale claimed the trial court committed "manifest error" by considering evidence that preceded Harris’ swearing in on July 2.

"Based on the City Charter and the Petition filed in this matter the only relevant evidence would be from the time that Mr. Harris became a council member which was July 2," McHale’s brief reads.

During the trial, testimony from Harris’ wife and son showed that they also spend much of their time at the Harmony Trail home, but in his brief McHale claimed that information was irrelevant, based upon La. Civil Code Article 40.

"Where his wife and son spend their time or where they are domiciled is moot," McHale said.

McHale also cited what he believed was an inequality in District Attorney James Lestage’s investigation because it did not involve conducting interviews with residents on Lake Court.

Lestage’s investigation was conducted in August after his office received a written complaint from former mayor Ron Roberts that Harris did not have the required domiciliary address.

Harris was elected to the city council seat in an April run-off election.

Lestage has until Friday to submit his own brief to the court, before oral arguments are made next week.””Michael Harris – Court

SportsPlus

McNeese Sports

Showdown in Hammond

McNeese Sports

Diamond roundup: Cowboys fall, Cowgirls win

Local News

US eggs prices hit a record high of $4.95 and are likely to keep climbing

Local News

Several Louisiana public university athletic programs — including McNeese — face financial deficits

Local News

Getting back on par: The long and short of the National Golf Club of Louisiana

Local News

NASA sending DeRidder students’ experiment into stratosphere

Local News

Shady Lane man found unresponsive has died

McNeese Sports

Richards shoots Cowboys by UNO

McNeese Sports

Cowgirls end skid at UNO

McNeese Sports

Late power lifts Pokes

McNeese Sports

Record win for Landreneau

Jim Beam

Jim Beam column:Movie highlights injustice

Informer

The Informer: LC was almost the home of a US naval base

McNeese Sports

Roundup: Cowboys win opener, Cowgirls fall to Tennessee

Business

Trump grants conditional export authorization for Commonwealth LNG project

Local News

Weekend thunderstorms followed by a mid-week cold front in the forecast

Local News

PHOTO GALLERY: Free Valentine’s Day dental care

Local News

Landry, Murrill target New Orleans sanctuary policies in federal court

McNeese Sports

Cowboys take on struggling UNO

Local News

Ann Lagneaux teaches students to turn negative thoughts into positive ones

Local News

Trump administration begins sweeping layoffs with probationary workers, warns of larger cuts to come

Local News

Unrestrained man killed in I-10 crash

McNeese Sports

Reyna, Chance lead Cowgirl comeback

Local News

Louisiana to end mass vaccine promotion