A high-profile lawsuit over who can participate in college athletics led to an unusual showdown Thursday between two of Louisiana’s best-known prosecutors: Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams and Tony Clayton, who leads criminal cases in Iberville, Pointe Coupee and West Baton Rouge parishes. It also shed light on a fact not often talked about outside of legal circles. Most Louisiana district attorneys practice law on a private basis on top of public jobs holding criminals accountable.
At the Baton Rouge court hearing that drew national attention, Clayton represented a group of athletes hoping to play in college again after running out of eligibility, after some attempted to go professional. Williams was on the other side, working with the Southeastern Conference, to block the athletes from rejoining college squads.
Clayton and Williams are among 30 of Louisiana’s 42 district attorneys who maintain a private practice on top of their government job, according to a review of disclosure documents they have submitted to the state over the past two years…