NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Louisiana lawyer who objected to the state bar association’s public statements on several issues including health tips and LGBTQ rights can no longer be forced to join or pay dues to the association, a federal appeals court has ruled.
Circuit Court of Appeals order, dated Monday, blocks the Louisiana State Bar Association from forcing attorney Randy Boudreaux to join the LSBA or pay its dues, at least for now.
Boudreaux's is one of more than two dozen cases playing out around the country challenging state requirements that attorneys join and pay dues to state bar associations.
Organizations including the Goldwater Institute and, in Louisiana, the Pelican Institute, are challenging mandatory bar association membership as violations of free speech rights.
The association's promotion of an article on the effects of student loan debt on young lawyers was not germane, the court found.
Persons:
Randy Boudreaux, Boudreaux's, Monday's, LSBA, Jerry Smith, Boudreaux, ”, Smith, ” Smith, “, Dane Ciolino, Ronald Reagan, Carolyn Dineen King, Jimmy Carter, Jennifer Walker Elrod, George W, Bush
Organizations:
ORLEANS, —, U.S, Circuit, Louisiana State Bar Association, Goldwater Institute, Pelican Institute, Twitter, LGBT
Locations:
Louisiana, Texas