Lousiana Gets Its First Black Chief Justice

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443624204578060770556129436.html

The Louisiana Supreme Court named its first black chief justice on Tuesday, ending a racially charged fight that centered on which of two judges was considered to have seniority for the post.

Justice Bernette Johnson, a Democrat who is the second elected African-American to serve on the 199-year-old court, will become chief justice in January, succeeding the retiring Justice Catherine "Kitty" Kimball.

Tuesday, the court voted 7-0 that appointed service counts the same as elected service. The court noted that race, gender, and political affiliation had played no role in its opinion. Four Democrats, including Justice Kimball, joined with two Republicans and one independent in Tuesday's vote. Justices Johnson and Victory were recused from the case.