§24. Attorney general as legal advisor; defense of officers and members; costs of defense; payment of judgment

A. The attorney general shall be the legal advisor of the governor, the adjutant general, and of the organized military forces of this state. All contracts and other legal documents to be prepared or executed in the course of the business of the military forces of this state may be referred to him. The attorney general, or an assistant attorney general designated by him, or the state judge advocate, or an assistant designated by him for the purpose, may issue any certificate of title required by the United States from the state of Louisiana, and the state shall hold harmless and indemnify such officers against liability as a result of issuing such certificate.

B. If the governor, adjutant general or other officer or member of the organized military forces of the state of Louisiana is prosecuted by civil or criminal action for any injury to any person or property performed or committed by him while in the active service of the state of Louisiana in the course of the business of the military forces of this state as required of him by this Part, the attorney general shall assume the responsibility for the defense of the governor, adjutant general or other officer or member of the organized military forces of this state, as the case may be, and shall conduct said defense personally or by one or more of his assistants.

C. All of the expenses of the defense of such civil or criminal actions provided for herein, including witnesses' fees for the defense, defendant's court costs and all costs for transcripts of records and abstracts thereof on appeal shall be paid by the attorney general from funds appropriated therefor.

D. Any fine paid or judgment rendered in any such civil or criminal action against the governor, adjutant general, or other officer, or any member of the organized military forces of this state shall be payable only out of funds appropriated therefor by the Legislature of Louisiana.

Acts 1974, No. 622, §1; Acts 1986, No. 850, §1.