Opinion Number

Dear Mr. Lawrence:

You ask this office to review the actions of the Morehouse Parish Police Jury at a public meeting held May 16, 2007. Of concern is the validity of the police jury's action to remove Mr. James R. "Randy" Bowen as a member of the Morehouse Parish Hospital Service District No. 1 Board of Commissioners.

At the outset, note the police jury is a public body which is subject to the Louisiana Open Meetings Law and all notice provisions contained therein. LSA-R.S. 42:4.2(A)(2). The Open Meetings Law must be liberally construed in favor of assuring that public business is performed in…