District attorney seeks to have judge candidate disqualified

The 16th Judicial District Attorney's office has filed suit here asking the court to compel New Iberia attorney Carolyn Deal to formally withdraw her candidacy for the Division H judgeship because she doesn't mean the requirements set out in the state's Constitution.
In a petition written for District Attorney Phil Haney by chief St. Martin Parish prosecutor Chester Cedars, the DA's office notes that under Article V, Section 24, of the Constitution, a judicial candidate must have been a lawyer at least eight years prior to qualifying to run for judge. Deal, the DA's office says, was not licensed until October 2007, nearly a year short of the eight-year requirement when she qualified on Aug. 21.
While under the state's election laws, challenges to a candidate's qualification must be made within seven days after the close of qualifying, the 16th JDA's office maintains it has the authority and obligation to act directly on a violation of the Constitution.
A show-cause hearing has been set before District Judge Keith Comeaux here at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24.
Deal is a candidate for the District H seat on the 16 JDC. Also running for that seat are Alisia Johnson Butler and Lori A. Landry, the incumbent.