| Advisory opinion request regarding whether Cameron Parish District Attorney Jennifer Jones is prohibited from utilizing Westlaw services paid for by the District Attorney's Office in her private law practice. Additionally, Ms. Jones asked whether she is prohibited from using public funds to purchase "pocket parts" for her private law library. |
|
Cameron Parish District Attorney Jennifer Jones requested an advisory opinion regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics would prohibit her from utilizing Westlaw services paid for by the District Attorney's Office in her private law practice. Further, Ms. Jones asked whether she is allowed to use public funds to purchase "pocket parts" for her private law library.
Ms. Jones stated that she has a private law practice d/b/a/ the Jones Law Firm. She provided that the Jones Law Firm and the District Attorney's Office each have Westlaw accounts to conduct online legal research. Westlaw charges $750 per month for the services regardless of the amount of use, unless a database outside the plan is accessed. Ms. Jones stated that she commonly conducts Westlaw research on her private account for the District Attorney's Office. Ms. Jones would like to cancel the Westlaw subscription for her private office, the Jones Law Firm, and simply utilize the Westlaw account paid for by the District Attorney's Office. She stated that she would not incur any additional charges on the District Attorney's Office Westlaw account.
Further, Ms. Jones provided that, as District Attorney, she is required to represent the Police Jury, School Board and all other parish boards and agencies in civil matters. The law books she utilizes to represent these boards and commissions are from her private law library. She would like to use District Attorney's Office funds to order the "pocket parts" (annual updates) for the law book in her private library.
|
|
|
La. R.S. 42:1111A prohibits a public employee from receiving anything of economic value, other than compensation and benefits from the governmental entity to which he is duly entitled, for the performance of the duties and responsibilities of his office or position.
|
|
|
Adopt the proposed advisory opinion.
|
|
| Assigned Attorney: |
Suzanne Mooney |
|
|