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→Controversy over second wife's state employment
In 2006, Noble Ellington married his longtime legislative secretary, the former Brenda Anderson Armstrong (born 1961). The second Mrs. Ellington sought to continue as her husband's legislative assistant. A hearing was to have been held in the 19th District Court in [[Baton Rouge]] on February 19, 2008, to see if she qualified under the state's [[ethics]] laws. However, the case was postponed.<ref>''The Monroe News-Star,'' August 2, 2008.</ref>
In 2006, Noble Ellington married his longtime legislative secretary, the former Brenda Anderson Armstrong (born 1961). The second Mrs. Ellington sought to continue as her husband's legislative assistant. A hearing was to have been held in the 19th District Court in [[Baton Rouge]] on February 19, 2008, to see if she qualified under the state's [[ethics]] laws. However, the case was postponed.<ref>''The Monroe News-Star,'' August 2, 2008.</ref>
State District Judge Don Johnson issued a temporary restraining order on January 11, 2008, that Mrs. Ellington could continue in her $54,540-per-year position until a final court decision is rendered.<ref>[http://www.newshorn.com/forums/viewthread/20314/ NewsHorn.com Forums | Louisiana and Ethics, Worlds in Collision<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> She maintained her position while Ellington served in the Senate because she had worked for him for more than a year before the couple married and had been employed by Ellington since he entered the House in 1988. The Louisiana Ethics Board maintains that the Senate and House are separate bodies so the grandfather clause no longer applied after Ellington returned to the House.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ktbs.com/news/nepotism-case-fight-on-hold-until-march/article_416f6a6a-63c5-5c5f-a9b2-f0c37ceac0f2.html|title=Nepotism Case Fight On Hold Until March|date=February 20, 2008|publisher=KTBS-TV ([[Shreveport]])|accessdate=September 5, 2019}}</ref>
State District Judge Don Johnson issued a temporary restraining order on January 11, 2008, that Mrs. Ellington could continue in her $54,540-per-year position until a final court decision is rendered. She maintained her position while Ellington served in the Senate because she had worked for him for more than a year before the couple married and had been employed by Ellington since he entered the House in 1988. The Louisiana Ethics Board maintains that the Senate and House are separate bodies so the grandfather clause no longer applied after Ellington returned to the House.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ktbs.com/news/nepotism-case-fight-on-hold-until-march/article_416f6a6a-63c5-5c5f-a9b2-f0c37ceac0f2.html|title=Nepotism Case Fight On Hold Until March|date=February 20, 2008|publisher=KTBS-TV ([[Shreveport]])|accessdate=September 5, 2019}}</ref>
In their legal argument, the Ellingtons maintained that the legislature is a single body and that Mrs. Ellington's employment should stand.Ellington said that his wife has "tremendous experience and a great understanding about the needs of the constituents." Then House Clerk Butch Speer said that the Ethics Board's opinion should stand:
In their legal argument, the Ellingtons maintained that the legislature is a single body and that Mrs. Ellington's employment should stand.Ellington said that his wife has "tremendous experience and a great understanding about the needs of the constituents." Then House Clerk Butch Speer said that the Ethics Board's opinion should stand: