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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> 0j° ," DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> s LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> eqr..,., ^ '. P.0.BOX 4368 <br /> ' 1 BATON ROUGE,LA 70821 <br /> o't / (225)219-5600 <br /> FAX (225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> wwwethicsstatela.us <br /> August 19, 2013 <br /> Margaret D. Duhon, CCR,RPR <br /> P.O. Box 2182 <br /> Lafayette, LA 70502 <br /> Re: Ethics Board Docket No. 2013-690 <br /> Dear Ms. Duhon: <br /> The Louisiana Board of Ethics, at its August 16, 2013 meeting, considered your request <br /> for an advisory opinion as to whether you may provide court reporting services at the 15th Judicial <br /> District Court after your retirement. You stated that you are currently employed by the Lafayette <br /> Consolidated Government, Vermilion Parish Police Jury, and Acadia Parish Police Jury. You work <br /> as an official reporter for Judge David Blanchet of the 15th Judicial District Court and have plans to <br /> retire within the next two years. You also stated that after your retirement you are considering <br /> substituting as a reporter for the reporters of the 15t Judicial District Court when called to do so. You <br /> would be paid by either the court reporter needing replacement or by the Judicial Expense Fund of <br /> the 15th Judicial District Court. <br /> The Board concluded,and instructed me to inform you,that the Code of Governmental Ethics would <br /> prohibit you from contracting with court reporters directly or with the 15th Judicial District Court to <br /> perform court reporting services following your retirement. Section 1121B(1)of the Code prohibits a <br /> former public employee, for a period of two years following the termination of her public <br /> employment, from rendering any service which such former public employee rendered to the agency <br /> during the term of her public employment on a contractual basis,regardless of the parties to the <br /> contract,to, for, or on behalf of the agency with which she was formerly employed. Therefore,you <br /> would be prohibited for two years following your retirement from providing court reporting services <br /> to the 15t Judicial District Court on a contractual basis because this is a service that you formerly <br /> rendered as an employee of the 15th Judicial District Court. <br /> This advisory opinion is based solely on the facts as set forth herein. Changes to the facts as <br /> presented may result in a different application of the provisions of the Code of Ethics. The Board <br /> issues no opinion as to past conduct or as to laws other than the Code of Governmental Ethics. If you <br /> have any questions,please contact me at(800) 842-6630 or(225)219-5600. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> n <br /> Jennifer T. Land <br /> For the Board <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />