Case Name: ROUSSEAU v. DEMOCRATIC PARISH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR PARISH OF ST. MARTIN; CHAMPAGNE et al. v. SAME
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1935-12-02
Citations: 165 So. 166
Docket Number: Nos. 33736, 33735
Parties: ROUSSEAU v. DEMOCRATIC PARISH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR PARISH OF ST. MARTIN. CHAMPAGNE et al. v. SAME.
Judges: 
Reporter: Southern Reporter
Volume: 165
Pages: 166–166

Head Matter:
183 La. 965
ROUSSEAU v. DEMOCRATIC PARISH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR PARISH OF ST. MARTIN. CHAMPAGNE et al. v. SAME.
Nos. 33736, 33735.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Dec. 2, 1935.
Labbe & Guidry, of St. Martinsville, and Geo. M. Wallace, of Baton Rouge, for re-lators.
Jacob S. Landry and Porteous R. Burke, both of New Iberia, and Xavier Mouton, of Lafayette, for respondent.

Opinion:
HIGGINS, Justice.
If a strict interpretation is placed upon the language of the Primary Election Law (Act No. 97 of 1922, as amended), and the notice of intention to become a candidate and the affidavit accompanying the notice are considered in that light, the candidate has not properly qualified. But, in the previous decisions of this court, we have repeatedly said that, since the right of the people to choose their public officials is indirectly affected, and this being the fundamental principle involved in all elections, a liberal construction should be placed upon the provisions of the statute.
The Court of Appeal treated the case in a liberal manner, which was in accordance with the announced policy of this court. Therefore, its judgment is correct and the writs are refused.