Toeing the Line: Vernon judge used public funds for gift shop purchases, golf outings
LEESVILLE, La. (KALB) - Through several public records requests, KALB obtained judicial expense reimbursement records revealing that a Vernon Parish-based district judge received payment reimbursements from the 30th Louisiana Judicial District’s expense fund accounts for golf outings and gift shop purchases.
The judicial expense fund accounts for courthouses across Louisiana are typically funded through a variety of sources such as fines, fees, grants, and government appropriations. Typically, judicial expense fund accounts are used to cover operating costs for a courthouse, such as office supplies and courtroom expenses. See below for an example of a courtroom meeting expense that had a reimbursement approved.
Rapides Judge Patricia Koch's Specialty Court Meeting, for which she filed a reimbursement.
Individual judges can additionally utilize the expense accounts of their courthouse to reimburse themselves for expenses tied to conducting their jobs.
“Judicial expense funds are designed to reimburse them for expenses related to the job they are doing and whatever judgeship they hold.”
Melinda Deslatte, Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) Louisiana
Rules and regulations put in place by the Louisiana Supreme Court mandate that judges must continue their legal education to maintain their position. Before exceptions, justices are required to obtain a minimum of 12.5 hours of approved “continuing legal education courses” (CLE) every year. According to the Louisiana State Bar Association, the intent behind the requirements is to “foster attorney competence, ethical and professional behavior through education.”
Between 2021 and 2025, KALB found that several employed judges across the Central Louisiana region typically applied for travel, lodging and meal reimbursements for CLE courses held out of state, on the legal basis of pursuing education.
Central Louisiana justices applied for reimbursements for lodging expenses and educational events such as "Dazzling Disney."
Division C Judge Scott Westerchil, with the 30th Judicial District, successfully filed and received a court reimbursement for attending a CLE summit at an Alabama hotel spa and resort in 2021. Within his reimbursement paperwork, lodging paperwork listed charges for a ‘pro shop,’ ‘jubilee’ and ‘bayside.’
The charging hotel clarified to KALB that:
- “Pro Shop” was a charge made at the resort’s golfing gift shop
- “Jubilee” was charged at the hotel’s poolside Bar and Grill
- “Bayside” was charged at the hotel’s traditional grill
According to the acquired expense fund records, no judicial administrator signed off on the reimbursement, only Westerchil.
Judge Scott Westerchil's 2021 Lodging Bill for a CLE conference in Alabama
Reimbursement Form: Judge Scott Westerchil filed for a CLE conference in Alabama
In 2022, Westerchil attended an educational summit in Natchitoches for CLE credits, but on the registration sheet for the event, he opted to enroll in an optional cocktail party and a golfing trip with fees included. The courthouse reimbursed him for the registration and additional fees tied to the golfing trip.
Judge Scott Westerchil's registration form for a Third Circuit Conference in Natchitoches
Check attached to Judge Westerchil's reimbursement form for a Third Circuit conference in Natchitoches
Melinda Deslatte with the Public Affairs Research Council highlighted a need for transparency and accountability among justices across Louisiana.
“I would like to know from the individual judge... why,” Deslatte stated. “What the charges were related to [..] would be useful to know; I would hope that the person who is in charge of them would’ve asked them those same questions.”
KALB found no rules or regulations that would’ve impeded Westerchil’s reimbursement requests. Part G, Section 1 of the Louisiana Supreme Court’s rules only established limitations on spending amounts and time frames regarding reimbursements for meal purchases, travel fees and lodging. Westerchil’s gift shop purchases were attached to his hotel’s lodging bill; the golf course trip was paid for through a registration form for a CLE educational event.
“Reimbursement or payment from any public funds for registration fees for a judge for attendance at meetings shall be limited to the fee actually paid or to be paid.”
Part G, Section 1 (iv) Registration Expenses, Louisiana Supreme Court Rules
