Opinion

Dowling v. Orleans Parish Democratic Committee

  • 235 La. 62
  • 102 So. 2d 755
Court
Supreme Court of Louisiana
Filed
Apr 21, 1958
Status
Published
Author
Hamiter
On the bench
Fournet, Hamiter, Hawthorne, McCaleb, Democratic
Cited by
30 cases

The opinion

HAMITER, Justice

(concurring in part and dissenting in part).

I am satisfied that fraud, sufficient to nullify the result of the election as promulgated by the Democratic Committee, was perpetrated in the casting of the contested seventeen votes in Precinct 3 of Ward 2. To me it is inconceivable that these votes could have been cast without the knowledge and assistance of at least three of the attending commissioners (this number is required at all times for the proper operation of the polling place).

But merely because the commissioners wore badges bearing the name of Mr. O’Hara, and they were considered to be members of his political faction, it does not necessarily follow that such candidate received the illegal votes. The persons guilty of the wrongful manipulation of the voting machine, thereby depriving the voters of the free expression of their will, also would not have hesitated to commit — and might well have performed — a Judas Iscariot act: they, for suitable remuneration, turning against the person whom they apparently favored in the first instance.

Therefore, I am of the opinion that, rather than declaring Mr. Dowling- to be the Democratic nominee, there should be judgment ordering the calling and holding of another second primary election.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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