Kristine Russell is the Lafourche Parish District Attorney. She represents the state and provides legal advice to the parish government. Kristine also works closely with the Parish President and Parish Council. The Office also has a zero-tolerance sexual harassment policy. Kristine has served as District Attorney for five years.
Kristine Russell re-elected as Lafourche Parish District Attorney
The Louisiana District Attorneys Association recently announced the election results of Kristine Russell, who will serve her second term as the District Attorney of Lafourche Parish. In her first term, she has accomplished many goals but feels she still has much to offer the community. As district attorney, she oversees a team of specialized prosecutors.
The office consists of 32 full-time employees and several volunteer interns. Kristine Russell was re-elected to the LDAA Board of Directors. The new board of directors will begin their terms on August 15, 2021. The LDAA is a group of Louisiana district attorneys who promote a strong justice system. They also provide training and testify before state legislative committees.
The district attorney is appointed under R.S. 162(E). She serves as counsel for the governing authority of the parish and has a legal relationship with the executive branch. In a recent judgment, a Louisiana judge found that a February 13, 2019 judgment was not final, but had been amended on April 8 and ruled that Russell was re-elected as Lafourche Parish District Attorney.
In the same vein, the Louisiana District Attorney’s Office was selected by the Community Foundation of Acadiana to receive a 2021 Leaders in Law Enforcement Award. The award was presented to Russell during a banquet in Lafayette.
Office’s zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment
The Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s Office has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment in the workplace. Sexual harassment in the workplace includes verbal and nonverbal behaviors that interfere with an employee’s ability to do his or her job and create an intimidating or hostile environment. This harassment can take many forms, including lewd gestures, unwelcome physical contact, and repeated requests to engage in sexual intercourse.
The District Attorney’s Office investigates complaints of sexual harassment and protects the rights of both the complainant and the victim. The investigation process includes gathering information from all involved parties. If an employee or supervisor is found to have engaged in sexual harassment, the District Attorney’s Office will investigate the matter and take appropriate action. If necessary, the employee may be fired or receive a reprimand.
The zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment applies to employees in all levels of the organization. Sexual harassment includes inappropriate joking, comments about a person’s physical appearance, and teasing based on gender. These behaviors create an unprofessional environment and should be reported immediately to the District Attorney’s Office.
Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment is effective in preventing sexual harassment and making the workplace a safe place to work. In addition to preventing harassment, the zero-tolerance policy also protects against discrimination.
Disqualifications for practicing law
There are a number of disqualifications for practicing law for the Lafourche Parish district attorney. For one, the attorney did not follow the Rules of Professional Conduct, which prohibit conflict of interest in a public office. In addition, he represented the State of Louisiana, and his conduct was improper.
The Louisiana Board of Ethics opened an investigation into the response to the campaign flyer. The Board obtained a recorded statement from the respondent, who falsely claimed he did not pay for the flyer. It later filed a disciplinary complaint against the respondent, and the criminal case was transferred to the Iberia Parish District Attorney’s office. Afterward, the Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s Office took over the prosecution.
The next elections for the Lafourche Parish district attorney will be held on Nov. 3, 2020. Voting is open until 8 p.m. and will be televised on WWL-TV. Candidates must be U.S. citizens and live in the parish where they registered.
Toups – the attorney, admitted to practicing law in 1977, was suspended for six months, and reprimanded. He was also suspended from practicing law in Louisiana for two years. Toups is 49 years old and was the attorney for the previous attorney of Mary Ordoyne.
