Friday, November 04, 2005

Random Over-Detailed State Law

In Louisiana, Rev. Stat. § 40:1379.3(N)(3) provides that state judges are permitted to carry concealed handguns in their own courtrooms (although it doesn't say anything about the hallway between judge's chambers and the courtroom, but who is going to stop a judge and frisk him in the back rooms of a courthouse???).

This raises a new twist to the age-old question "What do judges wear beneath their robes?"

(It also raises an interesting interaction problem with § 40.1379(I)(2), which says that any armed CCW permit holder to notify any police officer "who approaches the permittee in an official manner or with an identified official purpose" that he is carrying. Assuming that in La. the bailiffs are sheriff's deputies, if the bailiff approaches to inform the judge that a witness is ready, does the judge have to tell the bailiff that he is packing? Every time?)

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