Dumas v. Treen

551 F. Supp. 1162, 8 Educ. L. Rep. 50, 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16173
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Louisiana
DecidedNovember 19, 1982
DocketCiv. A. No. 80-596-A
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 551 F. Supp. 1162 (Dumas v. Treen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dumas v. Treen, 551 F. Supp. 1162, 8 Educ. L. Rep. 50, 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16173 (M.D. La. 1982).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

JOHN Y. PARKER, Chief Judge.

This action is now before the court for final disposition upon the merits. On February 18, 1981, 551 F.Supp. 1156 the court denied plaintiff’s motion for preliminary injunction and the parties have now stipulated that the merits of the matter is submitted upon the testimony and evidence received at the hearing on the motion for preliminary injunction.

At issue are plaintiff’s claims that the defendant, Governor Treen, violated his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights by failing to reappoint him or to submit his name to the State Senate as a member of the Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College. The Southern University Board was created by Louisiana’s 1974 Constitution and plaintiff was appointed by former Governor Edwards in 1975 for a term expiring December 31, 1978. His appointment was confirmed (consented to) by the state Senate. On January 28, 1980, then Governor Edwards reappointed plaintiff to the Board. On March 10, 1980, the defendant David Treen became Governor. Governor Treen did not submit plaintiff’s name to the state Senate and following adjournment of the Legislature, Governor Treen, on September 17, 1980, appointed another person to the Southern Board, vice plaintiff.

Plaintiff’s claims are based upon the constitutional principles articulated in Elrod v. Burns, 427 U.S. 347, 96 S.Ct. 2673, 49 L.Ed.2d 547 (1976) and Branti v. Finkel, 445 U.S. 507, 100 S.Ct. 1287, 63 L.Ed.2d 574 (1980) and their progeny. In the opinion dated February 18,1981, the court discusses the application of those concepts to, plaintiff’s case. The court also found as a fact that plaintiff failed to prove that political discrimination against him was a cause motivating Governor Treen’s decision. The evidence shows, that although plaintiff was actively involved in the campaign of Governor Treen’s opponent, Louis Lambert, nei[1163]*1163ther the Governor nor his immediate aides who advised him relative to appointments to the Southern University Board, were aware of plaintiff’s political activities. They knew only that plaintiff held an interim appointment from Governor Edwards which would expire, unless the state Senate confirmed (consented to) his appointment prior to the end of the regular legislative session. Although plaintiff’s name was not submitted to the state Senate, his political activities played no part in that decision.

In denying the motion for preliminary injunction, this court assumed that plaintiff might have been passed over for reappointment in order to make room for Treen supporters, Tanner v. McCall, 625 F.2d 1183 (5th Cir.1980), or because he was not sponsored by a member of the new administration. Elrod, supra. Making that assumption, this court concluded that appointment to a constitutionally created Board requiring Senate confirmation (consent) is not the type of “public employment” to which Elrod and Branti apply and thus, that plaintiff was unlikely to prevail upon the merits. Hence, the preliminary injunction was refused.

Reviewing the evidence previously offered, the court adopts all findings of fact and conclusions of law contained in the opinion dated February 18,1981. The court also concludes that plaintiff proved neither that the Treen administration was attempting to make room for its own supporters nor that sponsorship by a friend of the administration was a prerequisite to his reappointment to the Board of Southern University. All persons holding interim appointments from the Edwards’ administration who requested reappointment were considered by the Treen administration and there is no evidence that prior political support or even future “political loyalty” was imposed as a condition of reappointment. Plaintiff did not request reappointment; consequently, he was not considered.

Interim appointments are just that — they have limited longevity and, in this court’s view, there is no First Amendment violation in requiring, as the Treen administration did, that a recommendation of reappointment be made by a member of the Legislature or a friend of the administration, or that the individual himself request reappointment (assuming that these First Amendment principles have applicability to such public service).

Further reflection and examination of cases decided since denial of the motion for preliminary injunction, Tanner v. McCall, supra, McCormick v. Edwards, 646 F.2d 173 (5th Cir.1981), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1017, 102 S.Ct. 552, 70 L.Ed.2d 415 (1981) and Sweeney v. Bond, 669 F.2d 542 (8th Cir.1982), cert. denied, sub. nom. Schenberg v. Bond,-U.S.-, 103 S.Ct. 174, 74 L.Ed.2d 143 have not modified this court’s view that, in any event, the Elrod-Branti rationale does not reach public service such as here involved. A gubernatorial appointment to a prestigious, non-salaried position on the board of supervisors of a state university, requiring Senate consent under the Constitution is not “public employment” and the appointee is not a “public employee.” The fact standing alone that Senate confirmation is required indicates the political nature of the position. Louisiana, by its Constitution has chosen to make such service political. No provision of the federal Constitution prohibits the people of Louisiana from taking that action.

Branti v. Finkel, supra, teaches that our inquiry is directed, not at whether a particular position is “policy making” or “confidential” but whether “party affiliation” is an appropriate requirement for the effective performance of the public office involved. Id. 100 S.Ct. at 1295.

The office held by plaintiff is created by the state Constitution. The responsibilities of the members of the Southern University Board are, subject to powers vested in the Board of Regents, to “supervise and manage the institutions, statewide agricultural programs, and other programs, administered through its system.” Art. 8, Sec. 7(A) La. Const. 1974. The Board, “as a body corporate shall have authority to exercise all power to direct, control, supervise, and manage the institutions...” La.R.S. [1164]*116417:3351(A). Members of the Board serve without pay except per diem and expenses for attending Board meetings. Art. 8, Sec. 7(C) La. Const. 1974; La.R.S. 17:3206.

The broad public responsibilities imposed upon members of Southern’s Board by state law are apparent and, in this court’s opinion, a governor of this state may appropriately require compatibility of political views as a prerequisite to appointment to such a position.

Plaintiff has raised one interesting new argument not previously presented. Plaintiff’s ingenuous argument is that, under the Louisiana Constitution of 1974, plaintiff’s 1980 appointment by former Governor Edwards was not interim at all and that, despite the absence of Senate confirmation, he continues in office.

Article 4 of the Louisiana Constitution deals with the executive branch and Section 5 thereof specifically deals with the powers and duties of the governor.

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Bluebook (online)
551 F. Supp. 1162, 8 Educ. L. Rep. 50, 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16173, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dumas-v-treen-lamd-1982.