Whitehorn Vows to seek Louisiana Supreme Court Ruling in Caddo Sheriff’s Race

Democrat Henry Whitehorn is vowing to take his case to the Louisiana Supreme Court, after the Second Circuit Court of Appeal rejected his bid to have the original election results reinstated to the original count. It shows Whitehorn winning the race by just one vote with 21,621. Then, a limited recount resulted in the same one-vote margin and a Whitehorn victory.
Then came the legal challenges by his opponent, Republican John Nickelson, which ultimately led to a district court victory. Whitehorn turned to the appellate court to challenge the district results. But the five-judge panel voted 3-2 against Whitehorn’s appeal on December 12.
Political analyst LSU Shreveport Professor Jeffrey Sadow finds the situation ironic when you consider – both sides claim they’re the ones who are fighting for election integrity. But they are doing so in completed different ways.
The 3-2 ruling by the five-judge panel reflects that very same divide in the judge’s majority and minority opinions . “The majority [opinion] said people have to be assured that illegal votes aren’t being counted in an election, in order to secure integrity. ‘So, that’s why we have to do this,’” as Sadow explains “and the minority opinion is saying ‘well, the reason why we’re doing this is because courts shouldn’t be interfering in duly certified elections because that decreases people’s confidence in election integrity.’ So, they’re both arguing the same thing that their side is the one that’s actually protecting integrity.” So, for Sadow, the case all boils down to a question of what takes a higher priority: All votes must be counted or
more judicial independence.
For judge in the minority opinion he still concludes, “Nickelson has failed to prove but for the irregularities, the outcome of the decision would have been different.