Opinion ID: 1674080
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: The Issue of Reapportionment

Text: Louisiana's Constitution (Article III, Sections 2 and 3) requires that the legislature reapportion itself every ten years. It has failed to do so. For this reason, defendants contend, the legislature is improperly constituted. Therefore the laws enacted by it, including that which condemns murder (La.Crim.Code art. 30), are unconstitutional and this prosecution cannot be upheld. If the legislators who enacted this law were not de jure officers as defendants contend, we do not hesitate to say they were de facto public officers. Generally, for reasons of public policy, the acts of a de facto officer are valid as to third persons and the public until the officer's title to office is adjudged insufficient. In the meantime, the officer's authority may not be collaterally attacked or inquired into by third persons. Acts of de facto officers, then, are clothed with the same validity as the acts of de jure officers. State ex rel. Davis v. Police Jury, 120 La. 163, 45 So. 47 (1907); 43 Am.Jur., Public Officers, Sec. 495. From these well recognized principles, it follows that defendants may not avail themselves of the legislature's failure to reapportion itself to avoid prosecution. We hesitate to mention the dire results which would attend a contrary decision on this contention.