Judge rules Anseman ineligible for judge’s race

Vanessa Waguespack Anseman has been ruled ineligible to run for the Third Circuit Court of Appeal.
During a hearing Monday afternoon, state District Judge Alonzo Harris ruled that Anseman was ineligible because she did not meet the 10-year requirement due to losing multiple years (three) for a multitude of reasons.
Anseman was ruled ineligible to practice law in May of 2013 because she failed to stay current with required continuing education. That same year she was also ruled ineligible due to not filing forms regarding her attorney trust account, and the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled her ineligible in September of 2013 for her failure to pay bar dues.
With those lapses in eligibility that made Anseman roughly 50 days shy of the 10-year requirement for the March 25, 2017 general election.
Anseman expressed her frustration to members of the media outside the St. Landry Parish Courthouse in Opelousas on Monday afternoon.
“I hope this infuriates people as much as it infuriates me,” Anseman said. “Tell voters not to give up because I’m not going to.”
Anseman was given 24 hours to appeal the ruling to the Third Circuit Court of Appeal.
“I have my brief ready, and we will be filing in the next 24 hours,” Anseman said.
The hearing was a result of St. Landry Parish District Attorney Earl Taylor filing a petition last week. In Taylor’s petition he alleged that Anseman, who became a lawyer in October 2003, did not meet the state constitutional requirement to serve as an appeals court judge because she had not practiced law for at least 10 years.
Anseman is one of three Republicans that are running for the seat left vacant by Jimmy Genovese who was elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court last year.
The other candidates to replace Genovese are Lafayette-based attorneys Candyce Perret and Susan Theall.
The Third Circuit Court of Appeal includes 21 parishes and is based in Lake Charles. The election on March 25 is for District 3 of the Third Circuit, which covers Acadia, Allen, Evangeline, Lafayette, Iberia, St. Landry, St. Martin and Vermilion Parishes.