High court rules she has the seniority needed to succeed retiring Katherine Kimball
Bernette Johnson will become the first black Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court.
The high court has ruled that Justice Johnson has the years of appointed and elected service on the court to give her the seniority that entitles her to succeed the retiring Catherine "Kitty" Kimball.
The ruling resolves a legal dispute that ended up in federal court.
Justice Jeffrey Victory had argued he had more seniority that Johnson and deserved the position.
