Full Opinion

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal State of Louisiana No. 26-KH-508 STATE OF LOUISIANA, EX REL. TRAVIS DENNIS versus TRAVIS DAY, WARDEN IN RE STATE OF LOUISIANA, EX REL. TRAVIS DENNIS APPLYING FOR SUPERVISORY WRIT FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, DIRECTED TO THE HONORABLE ELLEN SHIRER KOVACH, DIVISION "K", No. 10-1386 October 27, 2026 Panel composed of Judges Susan M. Chehardy, Fredericka Homberg Wicker, and Scott U. Schlegel WRIT DENIED Relator, Travis Dennis, seeks review of the district court’s August 11, 2026 Order denying relator’s motion to compel. For the reasons explained below, we deny relator’s writ application. On August 24, 2011, relator was convicted of second degree murder in violation of La. R.S. 14:30.1. On September 15, 2011, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment at hard labor. In 2013, this Court affirmed relator’s conviction and sentence. State v. Dennis, 12-818 (La. App. 5 Cir. 5/16/13), 118 So.3d 1166, writ denied, 13-1384 (La. 12/6/13), 129 So.3d 530. In his writ application, relator contends that he filed a motion to compel the district attorney to produce additional records regarding his criminal prosecution and the district court denied the motion as repetitive and successive. Contrary to the requirements of Uniform Rules – Courts of Appeal, Rule 4-5, relator did not provide this Court with a copy of his motion to compel. However, it is apparent from the district court’s ruling that relator is seeking to obtain records under the Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1, et seq., by means of a motion to compel filed in his criminal case. The district court explains in its August 11, 2026 Order that it previously informed relator that if the district attorney denied his request for public records, relator should “institute civil proceedings for a writ of mandamus at the trial court level,” pursuant to La. R.S. 44:35(A). A motion to compel filed in a criminal proceeding is not the proper procedural vehicle to establish a right to records under the Public Records Law. See State ex rel. McKnight v. State, 98-2258 (La. App. 1 Cir. 12/3/98), 742 So.2d 894, 895. If relator believes that the district attorney did not produce all of the records he is entitled to receive, relator’s recourse is to institute separate civil proceedings at the trial court level for a writ of mandamus against the district attorney’s office. See La. R.S. 44:35(A); McKnight, supra. Relief under the Public Records Law is a separate cause of action, which relator cannot pursue by means of post-conviction motions in his criminal case. Accordingly, the district court did not err by denying relator’s motion to compel. This writ application is denied. Gretna, Louisiana, this 27th day of October, 2026. SUS SMC FHW SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ FREDERICKA H. WICKER CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK JUDE G. GRAVOIS MARC E. JOHNSON STEPHEN J. WINDHORST LINDA M. TRAN JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIRST DEPUTY CLERK SCOTT U. SCHLEGEL TIMOTHY S. MARCEL FIFTH CIRCUIT MELISSA C. LEDET JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF POST OFFICE BOX 489 GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400 (504) 376-1498 FAX www.fifthcircuit.org NOTICE OF DISPOSITION CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE DISPOSITION IN THE FOREGOING MATTER HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 4-6 THIS DAY 10/27/2026 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, THE TRIAL COURT CLERK OF COURT, AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE COUNSEL OF RECORD FOR EACH PARTY, AND TO EACH PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW: 26-KH-508 E-NOTIFIED 24th Judicial District Court (Clerk) Honorable Ellen Shirer Kovach (DISTRICT JUDGE) Matthew R. Clauss (Respondent) MAILED Travis Dennis #588476 (Relator) 6925 Highway 74 St. Gabriel, LA 70776