Opinion Number

Dear Mr. Vial:

On behalf of the St. Charles Parish Council, you have asked this office for a definition of "ex officio" as it relates to the rights and privileges of ex officio members of parish boards. In particular, the Parish Council would like to know if ex officio members of parish boards have the right to vote.

We begin with definitions found in Louisiana jurisprudence. In Lobranov. Policy Jury of Parish of Plaquemines, 150 La. 14, 90 So. 423 (La. 1921), the question before the La. Supreme Court was whether Act 21 of 1912 created an office separate from the sheriffs office. Language in…