District judge races begin

Qualifying begins today for 12 local judgeships, more

By Matthew Penix
St. Tammany News
Published on Wednesday, July 9, 2008 8:47 AM CDT

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Qualifying begins today for a host of local elected positions, including 12 22nd Judicial District court judges, the 22nd Judicial District Attorney, Slidell City Court judge, Justice of the Peace and more.

The judgeships, among the most coveted because of their long six-year terms and rare turnover rate, offer the most open chance for election: at 60 and older, state judges Patricia Hedges, Larry Green, Donald Fendlason and Elaine DiMicelli have all reached federal mandatory retirement age and must leave office.

Two other new judgeships, the 11th and 12th bench seats for the court, were unanimously approved last month by lawmakers in Baton Rouge. Senate Bill 91, authored by Julie Quinn, R-Metairie, provided roughly $146,000 yearly salaries for each of the new judges focused solely on family and juvenile law.

The new benches will alleviate pressure on the district’s 10 judges, whose current backload of cases constitutes the work of 15 judges, according to a Supreme Court analysis.

Qualifying for all the local slots ends Friday with a ballot set for Oct. 4, the primary election date. If needed, a runoff is scheduled for Nov. 4, said Jacque Berry, spokesman for the Secretary of State’s Office.

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